Mercy Gilbert Medical Center has one of only a handful of dedicated electrophysiology labs in the state of Arizona.
What is electrophysiology?
Electrophysiology (EP) is a sub-specialty of cardiology that deals with the electrical conduction system of the heart. The heart has a plumbing system called the coronary arteries. It also has an electrical system. This system keeps the heart beating by sending electrical signals to heart muscle. Any patient who has a slow heart rhythm (bradycardia), a fast heart rhythm (tachycardia), palpitations or irregular heart rhythms, sometimes needs to see an electrophysiologist. An electrophysiologist is a cardiologist that specializes in heart arrhythmias. The basic EP study consists of studying the electrical system of the heart by placing catheters inside the heart and measuring intercardiac electrograms to determine the reason for the rhythm problems.
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There are several things the electrophysiologist can do for the rhythm problem after the EP study. A pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), or a specialized biventricular device for people with congestive heart failure can be implanted. They also perform radiofrequency ablations (RFA) for people who have extra conducting pathways or extra electrical circuits in their hearts. The RFA procedures performed at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center include pulmonary vein isolations, left-side accessory pathways, atrial tachycardias, atrial flutters and all other kinds of ablations. The lab has the capability of using a 3-D mapping system to localize the extra electrical problems in especially difficult cases.
The electrophysiologists practicing at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center are board certified in electrophysiology. The staff in the electrophysiology lab at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center has certifications given by the Heart Rhythm Society, Cardiovascular Credentialing International, and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist.
Procedures performed in the EP lab at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center include:
- Cardioversions
- Diagnostic EP Study
- Implants of:
- Bi-ventricular ICD
- Bi-ventricular pacemaker
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- Loop recorder
- Permanent pacemaker
- Noninvasive programmed stimulation (NIPS)
- Radiofrequency ablations (with and without 3-D mapping) of:
- AVNRT
- AVRT
- Atrial Flutter
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Tachycardia
- Accessory Pathways
- WPW
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Tilt table testing
- Transesophogeal Echo (TEE)
To learn more, please call 480.728.7354.
