Replay of: Changing the Beat: Advances in Electrophysiology

Discover the latest techniques available to treat electrical disturbances of the heart in an archived live webcast

Advances in Electrophysiology

Pomona, New Jersey- The Heart Institute at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (ARMC) hosted a live panel discussion on advances in electrophysiology procedures Tuesday, May 17 at 5 p.m. Nader Ghaly, MD, director of Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Services at the Heart Institute at ARMC;Howard Levite, MD, medical director of the Heart Institute at ARMC, and director of the Heart Institute's Cardiac Catheterization laboratories; and Howard I. Axelrod, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Heart Institute at ARMC, moderated the panel discussion. Electrophysiology procedures discussed included: the tilt table test, non-invasive Automatic Internal Cardiac Defibrillator (AICD) implant, pacemaker battery change, electrophysiology studies and ablation. Also discussed was the AICD test. This test ensures that the leads, or electrodes, that lead into the patient's heart, are functioning correctly.

	Advances in Electrophysiology

Electrophysiology is a subspecialty of cardiology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of irregular heartbeat. It involves the diagnosis and treatment of patients who have problems with the electrical system of their heart. Irregular heart beat, or arrhythmia, can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. It can also indicate a serious health problem due to heart disease and can lead to stroke or sudden heart attack and death. Symptoms of irregular heart beat include palpitation, irregular heart beat, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and dizziness. Diagnosing these electrical problems in the heart is key to treating them. The Heart Institute is the only hospital in the region that has a full service Electrophysiology (EP) lab and is also the only hospital in the region approved to perform cardiac surgery.

Advances in Electrophysiology

"Tremendous advances in technology have dramatically changed the way we treat irregular heart beat," said Nader Ghaly, MD, director of Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Services at ARMC.

	Advances in Electrophysiology

The Heart Institute, which opened in the summer of 2001, is southeastern New Jersey's first and only full service cardiac surgical and interventional cardiac program. Based at ARMC's Mainland Campus, the Heart Institute and its team offer nearly every cardiac interventional procedure available, including angioplasty, electrophysiology studies, pacemaker and defibrillator implantation as well as open heart surgery. Surgical procedures performed include off-pump bypass surgery and minimally invasive procedures including coronary artery bypass surgery; valve repair and replacement; and endoscopic vein removal.