Electrophysiology & Arrhythmia Services

Electrophysiology is the study of the heart’s electrical system – a cardiac specialty that provides crucial services to people with abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmia.

When your heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly, you need specialized cardiac care. Our cardiac electrophysiologists work closely with our cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists and other members of the cardiac team to determine the best treatment for your specific condition.

Through Cape Cod Healthcare’s Heart and Vascular Institute, you have access to highly skilled cardiologists who specialize in electrophysiology (EP) and are trained in the latest advances for diagnosing and treating heart arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Clinic

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, which occurs when atria (the top chambers of the heart) start to beat fast and irregular without effective contraction. It is the most common heart rhythm disorder, occurring more frequently as people age. According to the American Heart Association, over 12 million people are projected to have AF by 2030.

The AF Clinic at Cape Cod Hospital offers comprehensive and personalized evaluation for patients who have been newly diagnosed with AF. Our goal is to provide education, guide therapy and serve as a bridge from the time a patient receives an AF diagnosis to further care with a general cardiologist and possible ongoing care with a cardiac electrophysiologist.

Diagnostic & Treatment Methods

Our electrophysiology team provides patients with an array of cardiovascular diagnostic tests to determine the ideal treatment(s) for your unique needs. Examples of diagnostic evaluations include:

• Diagnostic electrophysiology studies that involve threading a catheter into your heart to test its electrical impulses.
• Patient-activated event recorder that is implanted under your skin and captures data about suspected arrhythmias.

Common arrhythmia treatments include:

• Ablation - a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure to disable the abnormal heart tissue that causes arrhythmias. Electrophysiologists use two types of ablation, depending on the kind of arrhythmia and where the heart current is misfiring:
  • Radiofrequency ablation (burning)
  • Cryoablation (freezing)
• Artificial pacemakers, including the Micra® Transcatheter Pacing System – the smallest minimally invasive pacemaker available.
• Implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD), a device placed under the skin that can control the heart’s rhythm and electrical impulses.
• Watchman™ left atrial appendage closure – allows some arrhythmia patients to give up blood thinners without increasing their risk of stroke.
• Medication

Other procedures that may be used alone or in combination with these treatments include:

• Cardioversion can restore your hearts rhythm either through medication or an electrical shock to the heart while you are sedated.
• Maze surgical procedure