Electrophysiology Services

Electrophysiology is the study and treatment of the electrical system of the heart. The Meriter Heart & Vascular Hospital has a superior electrophysiology team, and is the only Madison hospital with a Pacemaker/ICD Clinic staffed by registered nurses who are members of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology and have successfully passed the NASPE exam.

Testing

• Cardiac Mapping of Abnormal Heart Rhythms
• ECG (Electrocardiogram) - A test that records the electrical activity of the heart. For more information about this procedure, read our Electrocardiogram article.
• Electrophysiology Studies (EP-Studies) - A test of the electrical system of the heart. The EP study results can help your doctor determine if you have a heart rhythm disturbance or diagnose your abnormal heart rhythm. For more information about this procedure, read our Electrophysiology article.
• Holter Monitoring - A continuous recording of the electrical activity of the heart during normal activity. For more information about this procedure, read our Holter Monitoring article.
• Pacemaker Clinic Services - The Meriter Heart & Vascular Hospital offers a nurse-run clinic that provides care 24-hours-a-day to community members who have a pacemaker or implanted cardiac defibrillator. Our nurses provide personal instructions, counseling and follow-up care to each patient. Our clinic also provides a unique service that enables patients to have their pacemakers tested from their home via telephone, with immediate feedback from the nurse. For more information, read our Pacemakers article.
• Telemanagement - Registered nurses specially trained in electrophysiology provide phone call assessment and advice.
• Tilt Table Study - The purpose of the tilt table test is to help determine appropriate therapy for individuals with syncope (fainting) spells of unexplained origin. For more information about this procedure, read our Tilt Table article.

Treatment

• Atrial Fibrillation Ablation - Specialized ablation of an abnormal heart rhythm called "atrial fibrillation," which is a rhythm that originates in the upper atria (chambers) of the heart. Ablation involves ablating (or destroying) abnormal tissue areas in the heart to attempt to return the heart to a more normal rhythm.
• Cardioversion - Refers to the process of restoring the heart's normal rhythm by applying a controlled electric shock to the exterior of the chest. For more information, read our Cardioversion article.
• Catheter Ablation - Catheter ablation of an irregular heartbeat involves having a catheter (tube) inserted into the heart through which electrical energy is sent to either reset the heartbeat or stop the heart from beating so a mechanical pacemaker can be put in place. For more information about this procedure, read our Ablation article.
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Insertion - An ICD is an electronic device that constantly monitors heart rate and rhythm. When it detects a very fast, abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers energy (a shock) to the heart muscle. This causes the heart to begin beating in a normal rhythm again. For more information about this procedure, read our Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators article.
• Pacemaker Insertion and Replacement - A pacemaker is an electronic device that is surgically implanted into the patient's heart and chest to regulate a heart rate that is too slow. For more information about this procedure, read our Pacemakers article.

Next: Heart Valve Disease Services

6/16/2008