What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase
your risk of strokes, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
Ablations
Ablation therapy
is a procedure by which
abnormal heart rhythms are treated by heating
or cooling the heart tissue that is causing the
abnormal heart rhythm. This procedure is
performed for a wide range of abnormal heart
rhythms, including atrial fibrillation, atrial
flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, and
ventricular tachycardia.
Cardioversions
Cardioversion
is a procedure during
which normal heart rhythm is restored
by providing an electrical shock to the
heart. The patient is sedated by a member
of the anesthesiology service for this
procedure. It is performed in the hospital,
and patients are typically sent home the
same day.
Pacemakers
Pacemakers
are used to treat slow heart
rhythms. Pacemakers consist of a pacemaker
battery and leads, which connect the battery
to the heart. Implanting a pacemaker takes
about 90 minutes to perform. Patients are
observed overnight and discharged to home
the following day. Pacemakers can be
single-chamber, dual-chamber, or
biventricular.
Defibrillators
Implantable Cardiovascular-Defibrillators
are used to treat slow and fast heart
(ICD's)
rhythms. ICD's consist of a defibrillator
battery and leads which connect the battery to
the heart. Implanting a defibrillator takes
about 90 minutes to perform. Patients are
observed overnight and discharged to home
the following day. Defibrillators can be
single-chamber, dual-chamber, or
biventricular.
LINQ Implants
LINQ™
Insertable Cardiac Monitoring System
(LINQ) implants help diagnose cardiac
arrhythmias. The experienced cardiologists at
the Heart Center of MetroWest use LINQ implants
to help patients get the right diagnosis and
treatment for their cardiac condition.
A LINQ implant is a small, wireless device placed
under your skin that collects cardiac electrical
activity over a long period of time. It’s like an
insertable, long-term electrocardiogram (EKG)
test. To learn more about LINQ implants, call today.