Electrophysiology focuses on your heart’s electrical system. It addresses irregularities with your heartbeat (arrhythmias) — and ways to keep your heart beating in a healthy rhythm.
The University of Miami Health System provides comprehensive electrophysiology services in South Florida. As an academic medical center, we offer the latest therapies, equipment, and innovations in care. Our skilled electrophysiologists provide an expert, personalized approach that helps ensure we find treatment that’s right for you.
What is an electrophysiologist?
An electrophysiologist is a doctor who specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias). These problems can occur when your heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
Not all arrhythmias are dangerous. But some can be serious and even life-threatening. If left untreated, some arrhythmias can lead to problems like stroke, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death.
What are the different types of arrhythmias?
There are many types of arrhythmias. Our electrophysiology team provides expert, advanced care for all types, including:
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF)
- Atrial flutter
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Ventricular tachycardia (VT)
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
How do electrophysiologists diagnose arrhythmias?
Our electrophysiologists provide a comprehensive assessment to help ensure an accurate diagnosis. This includes:
- Talking with you about your symptoms and family history.
- Reviewing your health records.
- Conducting a physical exam.
- Giving you a heart monitor to wear (in some cases) to help assess your heart rhythm.
- Providing testing like a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) that can show how your heart is functioning.
What is an EP study?
An EP (electrophysiological) study provides a more detailed view of your heart’s electrical system.
During this evaluation, our expert team threads a thin wire electrode through a vein to the heart. We then use advanced equipment to measure the heart’s electrical signals.
We may recommend an EP study for different reasons, such as:
- Determining the best treatment for you.
- Finding out the cause of symptoms like fainting.
- Assessing your risk of serious problems like sudden cardiac death.
- Finding out where in your heart the source of an arrhythmia is located.
How do electrophysiologists treat arrhythmias?
Our experts work closely with you to discuss your treatment options and find a plan that works for you.
Our treatment approach includes two key components:
- Managing risk factors like obesity, sleep apnea, and alcohol use.
- Providing advanced medical treatment tailored for you.
This combination is key to achieving the best outcomes. Sometimes, we can treat arrhythmias with risk modification alone. If needed, we offer a wide range of treatment options, including:
Ablation
This non-surgical procedure treats the specific area of the heart that is causing the arrhythmia. It uses heat or cold to interrupt the pathways causing the irregularity – and achieve a normal heart rhythm.
Pacemakers and defibrillators
We offer a robust program for implanting pacemakers and defibrillators.
- Pacemakers help the heart maintain a normal rhythm.
- Defibrillators restore a normal heartbeat if they detect a problem.
If you have an implanted device, we offer a clinic to follow your device remotely. This helps make care safer and more convenient for you.
Medication
Medication may help control an irregular heartbeat or prevent blood clots. Sometimes, people take medication along with other arrhythmia treatments.
Electrical cardioversion
This procedure uses an electric device to treat a fast or irregular heartbeat. Pads adhered to the skin deliver a shock that returns the heartbeat to a normal rhythm.
How do I know if I need to see an electrophysiologist?
You may not always have symptoms of an arrhythmia. But symptoms can include:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- A feeling of fluttering or pounding in the chest
Be sure to talk with your primary care doctor or cardiologist about any symptoms, family history of arrhythmias, and other risk factors. Your doctor may refer you to an electrophysiologist for specialized care.
Why choose UHealth?
Ground-breaking and life-saving research for atrial fibrillation. UHealth is the only institution that was funded by the NIH to conduct the LEAF study, investigating therapy to improve the outcomes of catheter ablation. Other NIH-funded studies focus on novel mapping and diagnostic approaches for atrial fibrillation.
Unmatched outcomes for our interventional, electrophysiology, and surgical efforts. Our innovative procedures and expertise make UHealth one of the busiest centers in the state. We’re very thoughtful in recommending procedures for patients to maintain a high-quality, high-efficacy program with high success rates, while keeping the complication rate at very low levels.
Innovative technology, therapies, and diagnostics. As an academic center, we offer newer treatments that push the boundaries of care. For example, we offer opportunities to participate in medical studies, providing you with the best treatment options available. Often, companies team up with us to introduce the latest products because they know the high quality of care we provide.
Electrophysiology testing for genetic arrhythmias. Some – but not all – arrhythmias may have a genetic basis. We have an arrhythmia genetics clinic to test for any possible hereditary factors. This allows us to give you a more precise and accurate diagnosis.
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