Arrhythmia affects how your heart beats — too fast, too slow, or in an irregular rhythm. Our electrophysiology specialists use advanced technology to diagnose and treat arrhythmia, helping you get back to a healthy heart.
Electrophysiology for arrhythmia: Ablation, pacemakers and ICD treatments for heart health
Your heart is powered by electricity. It creates its own electrical signals that tell your heart when to pump blood, which is what makes your heartbeat.
But sometimes, these signals can get mixed up, causing an irregular heartbeat known as arrhythmia. While arrhythmia isn’t always serious, it can affect your heart and overall health.
Our electrophysiologists use their expertise in the heart’s electrical system to treat arrhythmias. With advanced methods like radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation, we’ll help you understand the cause of your condition and offer heart-healthy advice to keep your heart in rhythm.
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Conditions
We treat a wide range of conditions that lead to irregular heartbeats, working to bring your heart back to a steady, healthy rhythm, including:
Atrial fibrillation
Cardiomyopathy
Electrolyte imbalance
Heart disease
Hypertension
Obstructive sleep apnea
Thyroid disease
Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular tachycardia
We'll also consider other causes of your irregular heartbeat, such as:
- Caffeine
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Nicotine
- Side effects from medications
Once we understand the source of your arrhythmia, we can create a treatment path that addresses it as quickly and effectively as possible.
Testing
Arrhythmia is usually diagnosed by a cardiologist. To find the cause of your condition, we use a range of tools to assess your heart health, including:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test records your heart’s electrical activity and helps identify abnormal rhythms.
- Echocardiogram: A special ultrasound used to capture images of your heart and assess its function.
- Holter monitor: A portable, wearable ECG that tracks your heart’s electrical activity over 24 hours.
- Stress “exercise” echocardiogram: We monitor how your heart responds to exercise to better understand its behavior under stress.
Treatments
There are several ways to treat arrhythmia, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to implanting devices to help your heart maintain a healthy rhythm.
Ablation for supraventricular tachycardia
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) ablation treats fast heart rhythms caused by abnormal electrical signals in the heart’s upper chambers. The procedure typically takes 3–4 hours, and most people can return to regular activities within a couple of days. However, it’s recommended to wait a little longer before resuming intense exercise.
Cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation
Cardiac ablation is often used to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib) by creating small scars in the heart to block abnormal signals and restore a normal heartbeat. We use either cryo (freezing energy) or radiofrequency (heat energy) to create these scars. The procedure typically takes 3–4 hours, and most people return to regular activities within a few days to a week.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) helps manage life-threatening arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. It continuously monitors your heart and can correct dangerous rhythms to prevent cardiac arrest. There are two types of ICDs:
- Transvenous: Inserted through veins near the chest
- Subcutaneous: Placed under the skin
Implantable loop recorder
For arrhythmias that occur occasionally, an implantable loop recorder monitors your heart's rhythm for up to 3 years. While it doesn’t treat arrhythmia, it helps us understand your condition better for future care.
Maze procedure
If other treatments haven’t been effective, the Maze procedure may be an option. This minimally invasive treatment creates several "mini ablations" to correct arrhythmia. Recovery is typically quick, with most people returning to normal activities in just a few days.
Locations
Tufts Medical Center CardioVascular Center
800 Washington Street
Proger Building at Floating Bridge, 6th floor
Boston, MA 02111
Lowell General Heart + Vascular Center
295 Varnum Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854
MelroseWakefield CardioVascular Center
585 Lebanon Street
2nd floor
Melrose, MA 02176
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