February 2007

The heart is one the most important organs in the body, pumping blood -- and therefore oxygen and vital nutrients -- throughout the body. As a result of new technology and techniques, and the recent addition of two cardiologists who specialize in the field of electrophysiology, PAMF's Department of Cardiology now provides even more services to improve patients' heart health.

"Electrophysiology is a subspecialty of cardiology that focuses on the heart's electrical system and rhythm," explained cardiologist Sung Chun, who provides electrophysiology services along with cardiologist Girish Narayan. "Abnormalities in a person's heartbeat, which is controlled by the heart's electrical system, can be a symptom of a serious condition."

With the expertise of Drs. Chun and Narayan, PAMF offers a full range of the latest electrophysiology procedures. "A lot has recently developed in this area," said Dr. Narayan. "We now have the ability to do new things to benefit a patient's health."

Below are some of the treatments utilized by Drs. Chun and Narayan to treat patients with electrical and rhythmic problems of the heart.

Ablation
During a cardiac catheter ablation, a long, thin tube is threaded into or onto the heart to destroy (or ablate) the area of heart tissue that is causing abnormal heart rhythms. It is a relatively non-invasive procedure to treat abnormally rapid heartbeats that cannot be controlled with medications or in patients who cannot tolerate medications. "This procedure can restore a normal heart rhythm and eliminate the need for long-term drug therapies," said Dr. Narayan.

Atrial Fibrillation
One very common disturbance of the heart is atrial fibrillation - a disorganized heart rhythm that can contribute to palpitations (fast heart rates), the worsening of heart failure or stroke. However, recent advances allow doctors to perform ablations to eliminate the condition, said Dr. Narayan. Advanced cardiac imaging, such as MRI, CT and intra-cardiac echocardiography, allows Drs. Chun and Narayan to more precisely plan and guide the placement of catheters and destroy (or ablate) lesions during the procedure and ensure patients' safety, Dr. Narayan added.

Device Implantation
Drs. Chun and Narayan can also insert small devices, such as a pacemaker, into a patient's body to treat a variety of conditions. Other devices that may be implanted to help the heart function properly include the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which can treat dangerous, life-threatening heart rhythms; and cardiac resynchronization therapy, which can greatly improve the quality of life for certain patients with heart failure. Dr. Chun is also an expert in performing laser lead extraction, a technique that allows the removal of infected or old pacemaker wires without the patient having to undergo open-heart surgery.

Diagnostic Services
PAMF also offers diagnostic services, such as Holter or event monitoring, to keep track of a patient's heart rhythms over time. In addition, transtelephonic and Internet-based monitoring are other diagnostic services that allow a patient's heart rhythm to be transmitted through the phone or Internet.

Other Cardiology Services
Beyond electrophysiology, the Department of Cardiology provides care to patients with a variety of heart conditions and disorders, and offers comprehensive services, including cardiac MRI; an anticoagulation clinic; a cardiac lab, featuring electro- and echocardiogram and other heart function tests; and a heart failure program.

"Electrophysiology is a relatively new area in cardiology, but one of the most rapidly advancing," said Dr. Chun. "There is a lot of new technology that is exciting and can help improve patients' health."

For more information about the Department of Cardiology, visit www.pamf.org/cardiology.