SSM Heart Institute has advanced electrophysiology (EP) labs to help physicians treat people with electrical problems of the heart, including atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias. Using cardiac mapping, electrophysiologists can identify the cause of an irregular heartbeat, and often correct it through a technique called ablation. This procedure corrects electrical conduction problems that cause abnormally fast — and potentially deadly — heart rates.
In addition, electrophysiologists can implant pacemakers for patients who experience a slow heart rate. Those with potentially deadly arrhythmias may require an implanted cardiac defibrillator that delivers a life-saving electrical impulse to return the heart to a normal rhythm.
SSM Heart Institute offers a full range of electrophysiology services, including:
- Electrophysiology studies
- Lead extraction
- Pacemaker implantation (including biventricular pacemakers)
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)/biventricular ICD
- Pacemaker and ICD programming
- Complex arrhythmia mapping and evaluation
- Catheter ablation (radio frequency) of SVT, VT, atrial flutter and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- Cardioversion (internal and external)
We offer the Carto X-Press electroanatomical navigation system, an advanced 3D imaging technology used for treating cardiac arrhythmias. We also use the Thermacool catheter to treat complex arrhythmias through ablation. This technology uses saline to prevent the heart surface from becoming too hot from the radio- frequency power, allowing the treatment to be delivered deeper into the tissue.