Arrhythmia

Conditions We Treat

We diagnose and treat all arrhythmia types and heart rhythm related conditions such as:

• Adult congenital heart disease arrhythmias – These are heart arrhythmias people are born with affecting heart function. The eight most common types of congenital heart disease are ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), single ventricle defects, pulmonary valve stenosis, patent ductus arteriosus, dextro-transposition of the great arteries, and aortic valve stenosis.
• Arrhythmic myocarditis – These are irregular heartbeats occurring in patients with myocarditis (inflammation of the heart wall). A PET scan is a nuclear imaging test that helps to measure inflammation in the heart muscle and is an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of various arrhythmias related to myocarditis.
• Atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF)
• Atrial flutter – This is a fluttering sensation in your chest caused by the heart’s electrical activity signal getting "stuck" in an upper chamber, or atrium, of the heart. This causes the upper chambers, or atria, to beat faster than the lower chambers (the ventricles). With atrial flutter the heart’s electrical activity beats quickly and irregularly. It can be uncomfortable but is not life-threatening. However, it should be treated because it can lead to atrial fibrillation and put stress on the heart. The extra stress can cause complications such as stroke, heart attack or heart failure. Treatment for atrial flutter includes medication and heart ablation.
• Bradycardia (sinus node dysfunction, heart block) – Bradycardia occurs when the heart’s electrical activity beats too slowly. For adults, this is less than 60 beats per minute (BPM).
• Heart failure – Heart failure occurs when the heart is operating inefficiently and cannot pump the amount of blood that the body needs. Types of heart failure include congestive heart failure, systolic heart failure, diastolic heart failure, left-sided heart failure, and right-sided heart failure.
• Inherited/congenital cardiac arrhythmias – Inherited, or congenital, arrhythmias are heart rhythm issues inherited from one or both parents. Various types of inherited/congenital cardiac arrhythmias include long QT syndrome (LQTS), Brugada syndrome, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM, also known as sudden cardiac death), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C), and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPTV).
• Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) – PVCs are extra heartbeats originating in the lower chambers, or ventricals, of the heart. Patients often feel these extra heartbeats as additional flutters or palpitations. Those extra heartbeats can cause the heart to lose synchrony which can lead to weakening of the heart muscle and heart failure. Early identification of PVCs will help prevent the development of heart failure.
• Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) – SCA occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating and blood stops flowing to your body due to an electrical system issue.
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) – These are fast heartbeats that originate in the atria (upper heart chambers). This is the most common type of arrhythmia in babies and children. Treatment is recommended if you suffer from frequent or prolonged episodes. Treatment for SVT can include medications, cardioversion and catheter ablation. Various types of SVT include atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT), atrial tachycardia (AT), inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IAST), and junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET).
• Syncope – Syncope is a loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood pressure.
• Ventricular tachycardia (VT) – This is when abnormal electrical signals in the ventricles (lower heart chambers) can cause the heart’s electrical activity to beat faster than normal and out of sync with the atria (upper chambers). This condition hinders blood flow to your body because the ventricles contract before they completely fill with blood. Treatment can include medications, defibrillation, ablation or cardioversion.