Electrophysiology and Heart Rhythm Disorders

Your heart’s electrical system plays a vital role in keeping it beating in a steady rhythm. Throughout the day, electrical signals travel from the top to the bottom of your heart, triggering contractions that pump blood out of the heart and into your arteries and blood vessels, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your entire body.

When the electrical activity in your heart is disrupted, it can lead to an arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm. At Ochsner, we treat a wide range of arrhythmias, including:

• Atrial fibrillation: An irregular, often rapid heart rhythm
• Atrial flutter: Similar to atrial fibrillation but with a more regular pattern
• Bradycardia: A heart rate that is excessively slow
• Heart failure: The heart struggles to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs
• Sudden cardiac arrest: A critical electrical malfunction that causes the heart to stop pumping blood, requiring immediate attention
• Supraventricular tachycardia: Abnormally fast heartbeats in the upper chambers of the heart
• Syncope: Fainting, which may be linked to an arrhythmia
• Ventricular tachycardia: Rapid heartbeats originating in the lower chambers of the heart

The symptoms of arrhythmias can vary depending on their type and severity. Common symptoms include:

• Feeling your heart alternate between rapid and slow rhythms
• Faintness, weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• Sweating and/or chest pain or pressure
• Unexplained loss of consciousness
• Anxiety or shortness of breath

An electrophysiological study is a key diagnostic tool used to uncover the cause of your arrhythmia. During the procedure, an electrophysiologist carefully guides a thin, flexible catheter to your heart. Small electrical wire electrodes are then placed on your heart to monitor and record its electrical activity in real time.

Throughout the test, your blood pressure is closely monitored using a cuff, and medication is administered through an IV in your hand or arm to help minimize anxiety and discomfort.

The detailed insights gathered from this study allow your electrophysiology and heart rhythm team to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

The goal of treatment is to prevent future complications and bring relief for symptoms. Treatment options available at Ochsner include:

Cardiac ablation: When a specific area of your heart is causing rhythm issues, ablation can help restore normal function by targeting and neutralizing the problematic tissue. This can be done using:

• Radiofrequency ablation: Uses heat to destroy the affected area
• Cryoablation: Which uses extreme cold to achieve the same result

These therapies are effective for treating conditions like atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and more.

Device therapy: For hearts that need assistance maintaining a steady rhythm, we offer:

• Pacemakers: Are implanted in the chest to prevent the heart rate from dropping too low. These small devices are placed directly inside the heart’s right ventricle.
• Defibrillators: Monitor heart rhythms and deliver a corrective shock if an abnormal rhythm occurs, helping to restore a normal heartbeat.

Laser extractions: When older pacemakers or other implanted devices need to be removed, we use advanced laser technology. This method is faster and more effective than traditional techniques, delivering excellent results.

Long-term monitoring: For arrhythmias that occur sporadically, a loop recorder can provide valuable insights. This small device is implanted in the chest and tracks your heart rhythm for a year or longer, helping to detect irregularities over time.

Left atrial appendage occlusion: Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots forming in the left atrial appendage, increasing the risk of stroke. While blood-thinning medications can prevent clots, they require lifelong use. Devices like WATCHMAN and AMULET offer an alternative by sealing off the left atrial appendage to prevent clots from leaving the heart, no medication required. Ochsner was among the first programs in the nation to offer this innovative treatment.

At Ochsner, a team approach helps bring your heart back in rhythm. Along with electrophysiologists, your team may include the following:

• Cardiovascular anesthesiologists
• Cardiothoracic surgeons
• Congenital heart surgeons
• Heart failure specialists
• Transplant team
• Nurse practitioners
• Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons
• Cardiac imaging specialists: Experts in advanced imaging techniques like echocardiograms and MRIs to guide diagnosis and treatment.
• Electrophysiology nurses and technicians: Specially trained professionals who assist during procedures and provide ongoing support.
• Pharmacists: Specialists who help manage medications for arrhythmias and other heart conditions.
• Social workers and care coordinators: Professionals who provide emotional support, help navigate treatment plans, and connect you with resources.

This multidisciplinary team works together to provide personalized, comprehensive care tailored to your unique needs.

The field of electrophysiology and heart rhythm disorders is constantly evolving, and the Ochsner team is at the forefront of these advancements. We continuously evaluate new technologies as they emerge, adopting proven innovations to ensure our patients have access to the most effective and cutting-edge treatments available.

Our commitment to progress extends beyond patient care. We actively participate in clinical research and various clinical trials in cooperation with other electrophysiology centers across the country. These efforts drive the development of better therapies, improving the management of arrhythmias and offering hope to more patients in the future.

If you’re eligible for a clinical trial, your care team will provide a clear explanation of the trial’s purpose, potential benefits, and limitations, empowering you to make an informed decision about whether participation is right for you.

Electrophysiology is a specialized field of cardiology that focuses on diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders, also known as arrhythmias. Using advanced tools like electrophysiological studies, cardiac ablation and device therapy (such as pacemakers and defibrillators), electrophysiologists can identify the cause of abnormal heart rhythms and develop personalized treatment plans to restore your heart’s normal rhythm.

Symptoms of an arrhythmia can vary but may include a racing or slow heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain or unexplained fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, especially if they are sudden or severe, it’s important to seek medical attention. Ochsner’s electrophysiology team specializes in diagnosing and treating arrhythmias to help you feel better and prevent complications.

Ochsner offers a wide range of advanced treatments for heart rhythm disorders, including cardiac ablation, device therapy (pacemakers and defibrillators), long-term monitoring with loop recorders and left atrial appendage occlusion for atrial fibrillation. Our team uses the latest technology and techniques to provide personalized care tailored to your specific condition.