Electrophysiology

Electrophysiology at UVM Health

Electrophysiology is a medical specialty focused on the heart’s electrical system. Cardiac electrophysiologists offer targeted diagnosis and treatment for arrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms.

At University of Vermont Health, our team of cardiac electrophysiologists provide comprehensive, personalized care.

With a network of locations throughout Vermont and northern New York, you’re always connected to a larger team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists and heart surgeons.

Two cardiothoracic surgeons look at a monitor.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the leading heart and vascular programs in the region, we offer:

Physician expertise: As a health system anchored by an academic medical center, we are actively involved in research, as well as training the next generation of physician leaders to propel the field forward.
Coordinated care: When needed, we coordinate transfers and referrals quickly and efficiently, so you always receive the treatment you need.
State-of-the-art services: Our electrophysiology specialists are highly skilled and experienced, performing high volumes of advanced procedures, including complex cardiac ablations, in our state-of-the-art electrophysiology laboratories.

Conditions We Treat with Electrophysiology

An electrophysiologist may be part of your treatment team if you have a heart arrhythmia. Arrhythmias occur when your heart sends faulty electrical signals that cause your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.

Electrophysiologists treat all types of arrhythmias, including:

Atrial fibrillation (AFib): A fast heartbeat in your upper heart chambers (atria)
Bradycardia: A very slow heartbeat
Cardiac arrest: A sudden loss of heart function
Premature contractions: An early electrical signal that causes your heart to feel like it’s skipping a beat
Tachycardia: A too-fast heartbeat
Ventricular tachycardia: A too-fast heartbeat in your lower heart chambers (ventricles)

What to Expect From an Electrophysiology Study

Your electrophysiologist often helps diagnose an irregular heart rhythm through an electrophysiology study. During this test, your electrophysiologist:

Inserts a flexible, hollow tube (catheter) through a blood vessel in your groin, neck or arm
Guides the catheter to your heart
Sends electrical signals through the catheter to your heart
Records your heart’s electrical activity

An electrophysiology study, along with other cardiac imaging and stress testing tools, can help diagnose what’s causing irregular heart rhythms and guide your treatment plan.

Electrophysiologists are usually part of your treatment team if you need heart rhythm treatments such as:

Catheter ablation: Your provider guides a catheter to your heart, then sends heat energy to your heart tissue. This energy creates scar tissue that blocks the electrical signals causing irregular heart rhythms.
Cardiac resynchronization: Pacemaker devices send electrical signals to your heart to keep it beating in a normal rhythm. Biventricular pacemakers, which send electrical signals to both the left and right sides of your heart, are commonly used to treat heart failure, and the process of implanting these devices is called cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Implantable devices: Devices implanted beneath your skin, including implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) or pacemakers detect arrhythmias. When they detect an irregular heartbeat, they send electrical signals to your heart to shock it back to, or help it maintain, a normal rhythm.