Electrophysiology

There are many different forms of arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), including regular or irregular fast heart beats/ rhythm (tachycardia), and slow heart beats/ rhythm (bradycardia). Common rhythm disorders include atrial fibrillation and flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, Wolff –Parkinson-White Syndrome, ventricular premature beats/ tachycardia and heart arrest. There are times with profound slow heart rhythm requiring implantation of a pacemaker. Syncope (fainting) is another common problem that necessitates thorough evaluation of rhythm or nerve-mediated disorder.

Our electrophysiology laboratories are equipped with the state-of-the-art modern facilities capable of performing various procedures to diagnose heart rhythm problems and to treat them.

In the Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, we offer a variety of highly specialized modalities to approach the heart-rhythm problems. These include:

• Sophisticated and dedicated cardiac electrophysiologic laboratories including a room with a Stereotaxis remote navigation system for advanced and more accurate mapping and safer catheter ablation to treat complex rhythm disturbances. We do catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, various forms of SVT including atrial tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, ventricular tachycardia and symptomatic PVC’s.
• Remote monitoring devices to help diagnose arrhythmias that come and go. New implantable devices are also available to help physicians monitor volume changes in the heart for those with heart failure and provide ongoing monitoring for those with complex arrhythmias or devices.
• Physicians and nurses in our Device Clinic perform about 5,000 device checks each year to monitor the function of implanted devices.
• Rhythm management and follow-up EP clinic for patients with rhythm disorders, using the most current medical regimens available.
• A full range of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devices available to provide individualized treatment for many irregular heart rhythms.
• Biventricular rhythm synchronized pacemakers/defibrillators to improve left ventricular function in patients with heart failure. This treatment complements pacemaker and ICD therapy used to treat arrhythmias associated with heart failure.
• Removal of leads from damaged and infected pacemakers or defibrillators.
• Syncope evaluation uses a full range of diagnostic tests including the head-up tilt test to evaluate patients with syncope (fainting) or other neurogenic disorders.

Dedication to the care of patients, combined with the excellence, experience and skill of the members of the Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, makes us the leader in the treatment of patients with abnormal heart rhythms in Central Texas.

Electrophysiology physicians

• Shoei K. Stephen Huang, M.D., Section Head
• James Black, M.D.
• Peter Cheung, M.D.
• Lynne Hung, M.D.
• Taresh Taneja, M.D.
  

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