Electrophysiology Program at Penn: Diagnosis, Management and Treatment of Heart Rhythm Disorders
The electrophysiology team at the University of Pennsylvania Health System works to provide therapies and treatment that can improve and/or cure cardiovascular-related disease and abnormal cardiac rhythms. The current advances in the area of electrophysiology at Penn include the development of new techniques and therapies to treat patients with complex arrhythmias and heart failure.
What is an Arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rate or rhythm. It can be normal to severe and should be evaluated by a cardiac electrical specialist (electrophysiologist) who studies the electrical rhythms and the physiology of the heart.
Not all arrhythmias are life-threatening; however, if they cause a severe decrease in the pumping function of the heart, blood circulation will essentially stop and organ damage may occur within a few minutes. There are four types of arrhythmias:
- Tachyardia – a fast heart rhythm that is greater than 100 beats per minute
- Bradycardia – a slow heart rhythm that is less than 60 beats per minute
- Premature atrial or ventricular beats – extra, early contractions that cause an irregular rhythm
- Atrial fibrillation – an irregular rapid rhythm from the top of the heart (atria) that causes an irregular and often rapid heart rate. It is a natural part of the aging process and affects approximately 20 percent of the population at some point in their lifetime. If the arrhythmia recurs frequently or persists, it will require treatment.
Symptoms of Arrhythmia
Many times people with an arrhythmia have no symptoms. However, people who have an arrhythmia that is too slow may experience:
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Passing out (in severe cases)
People who have an arrhythmia that is too fast may experience:
- Irregular or rapid pulse
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Passing out
If arrhythmia originates from the bottom of the heart, a life-threatening situation called "sudden cardiac death" can occur. This condition is very serious and requires emergency treatment.
Treatment Options for Arrhythmia
There are different treatments for arrhythmias, depending on the severity and type. Before recommending a treatment option, your doctor may order an electrophysiology study (EPS) to better understand your rhythm problem.
Treatment options you should ask your physician about are medical management, cardioversion, pacemaker implant, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and ablation therapy.
Penn Electrophysiologists:
- Rupa Bala, MD
- David J. Callans, MD
- Joshua Cooper, MD
- Ramin R. Davoudi, MD
- Sanjay Dixit, MD
- Fermin C. Garcia, MD
- Edward Gerstenfeld, MD
- David Lin, MD
- Frank Marchlinski, MD
- Andrea Russo, MD
- Ralph Verdino, MD
- Kent Volosin, MD
- Kar-Lai Wong, MD
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