Cardiology

Our device clinics provide long-term maintenance and monitoring of implantable cardiac devices including pacemakers, defibrillators, biventricular pacemaker-defibrillators and implantable monitors.

Routine maintenance is crucial for detecting possible future complications. 

Pacemakers routinely require computer programmer checks every three to six months. Defibrillators are normally checked every three or four months. Implantable monitors are often checked every three months or as symptoms dictate. If concerns arise over a device’s performance or a new clinical development occurs (such as syncope or ICD shocks), an appointment is expedited.

We offer reliable and secure web-based “remote analysis” from
a patient’s home or workplace, even from out of state, to reduce frequent in-person check-ups.

Cardioversion is a common procedure to shock the heart back into rhythm. Most patients who undergo a cardioversion procedure have either atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

You should avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before the study except for your normal medications, unless otherwise directed by your healthcare provider.

Most patients who undergo this procedure are placed on a blood thinner, such as coumadin, for at least four weeks before and following cardioversion. In some situations, your doctor may recommend that you have a special type of echocardiogram, called a transesophageal echocardiogram, immediately before your cardioversion to be certain there are no blood clots in your heart.

Once at the EP lab, a nurse will place an IV in your hand or arm so you can receive fluids and medications. During the procedure, you will lie on a padded table. You will have a blood pressure cuff on your arm, a clip on your finger to make sure you are getting enough oxygen, and ECG electrodes and two large patches on the chest. The electrodes and patches monitor the heart rhythm and, once you are fully asleep, deliver a safe, controlled shock to the chest to restore normal rhythm. During recovery, your nurse will record your blood pressure and monitor your heart rhythm regularly.

Although pacemakers and ICD pulse generators need to be replaced every four to 10 years, the leads (wires) that connect the device to the heart usually remain in place forever. Under rare circumstances, these leads will have to be removed to prevent infection.

Lead extraction procedures are all performed in our new state-of-the-art hybrid operating room with cardiac surgical backup.
 

Our center provides a specialized program for treating Ventricular Tachycardia with catheter ablation. Specialists use computerized mapping techniques combined with CT or MRI imaging to Catheter ablation involves using computerized mapping to identify the site of origin of the VT or premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Once identified, ablation energy is applied to treat this arrhythmia. For some types of VT we have to apply ablation energy to the outside of the heart using an epicardial approach.