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For patients with irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia), Forsyth Cardiac & Vascular Center houses a state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab, in which troublesome arrhythmias may be treated in a number of ways. While some arrhythmias may be life-threatening, many simply cause discomfort, and limit the patient's activities. Our electrophysiology staff has experience in treating these problems and returning patients to a quality of life that they haven't known for many years. The following are offered through Cardiovascular Services at Forsyth:

A diagnostic electrophysiology study is a procedure in which a long tube (catheter) is inserted into the femoral artery in the groin and threaded through the blood vessels into the heart. The tip of the catheter has tiny electrodes that measure the electrical activity within the heart, similar to an electrocardiogram (EKG). These measurements allow the electrophysiologist to diagnose problems with the electrical system of the heart, which most often causes unstable heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

Radiofrequency ablation is a therapeutic procedure in which a long tube (catheter) is inserted into the femoral artery in the groin and threaded through the blood vessels into the heart. The tip of the catheter has the ability to conduct heat through high level radiofrequency signals. The heat conducted in this catheter is used to burn and create scar tissue around small areas of the heart from which the abnormal electrical signals arise. In recent years, radiofrequency ablation has proved very safe and effective as a method of reducing debilitating and/or life-threatening arrhythmias. This usually eliminates the need for life-long treatment with medication.

A pacemaker is a device that is implanted in a patient's chest with leads (wires) that extend into the patient's heart to ensure that the heart rate does not drop too low. Since pacemakers were first introduced in the 1950s, the devices have undergone major advances. Forsyth Cardiac & Vascular Center uses the most up-to-date pacemakers available to patients. In the past, pacemakers were implanted in the operating room under general anesthesia. Today, pacemaker implantation is a relatively minor procedure, performed in the electrophysiology lab under local anesthesia. There are many types of pacemakers available, and your doctor will select the type that is most effective for the particular arrhythmia that you may have.

An ICD is a device that is used to treat patients with extremely serious arrhythmias. These arrhythmias occur suddenly, and can cause the patient to lose consciousness or die. The ICD is implanted in the chest with leads (wires) that are implanted in the patient's heart. When a sudden serious arrhythmia occurs, the ICD delivers a shock to the patient's heart that disrupts the abnormal rhythm, allowing it to beat normally again. Similar to pacemakers, ICD technology is advancing at a very rapid rate. The Arrhythmia Center at Forsyth Cardiac & Vascular Center offers the most up-to-date ICDs available, and is involved in research to determine which types of heart rhythm disorders may be most effectively treated by an ICD.