Heart arrhythmia

The electrophysiology heart rhythm specialists at Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute are extensively trained in treating the most complex arrhythmias, and provide access to the most advanced procedures available.

Learn more about Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute

A cardiac arrhythmia can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which are unknown. However, our teams specialize in helping you identify common lifestyle factors and congenital health conditions that can increase your risk of developing a heart rhythm disorder. Some of these factors and conditions include:

• Caffeine or nicotine use
• Diabetes
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Medications, drugs and supplements
• Obesity
• Sleep apnea
• Smoking

Common symptoms of an arrhythmia to look out for include chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, racing heart or shortness of breath. When diagnosing an arrhythmia, our teams of electrophysiologists use advanced technologies to evaluate your heart from every angle.

By taking a comprehensive approach to diagnostic and imaging tests, we are able to provide a customized diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan. Our diagnostic and imaging specialists offer advanced cardiac tests for diagnosing irregular heartbeats, as well as assessing how well treatments are working. Testing for arrhythmias may include:

• Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Exercise stress test
• Holter monitoring
• Implantable loop monitor
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Tilt table testing

Electrophysiology (EP) studies

An EP study is conducted to assess your heart's electrical system to diagnose a possible arrhythmia. To do this, a special moving X-ray, called "fluoroscopy," is used to guide catheters and wired electrodes through your blood vessels and into your heart. Once there, electrical activity can be measured to determine the cause of your arrhythmia by creating a detailed map of the signals that move between each of your heartbeats.

If an arrhythmia is left untreated, blood clots could form in the heart and block blood flow, making it a notable stroke risk factor. Depending on the type of arrhythmia you are diagnosed with, your treatment may include medication, cardiac ablation, advanced surgery or a combination of the three.

We are able to treat a variety of arrhythmias and heart rhythm disorders with various procedures including minimally invasive options. Our full range of available treatments includes:

• Cardioversion — This procedure involves a prescribed electrical energy shock used to convert the abnormal heart rhythm.
• Catheter ablation — This delivers radiofrequency energy directly to the area causing the rhythm problem. It can be used to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), VT and Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome.
• Cryoballoon ablation — This minimally invasive procedure uses a catheter to treat the electrical triggers that cause irregular heartbeats.
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and pacemakers — These battery-operated devices are implanted under the skin to help regulate heart rhythm.
• Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) implant — This procedure reduces AFib stroke risk, and may eliminate the need for blood thinners if you are experiencing non-valvular AFib.
• Left atrial appendage ligation — This noninvasive procedure can help reduce the risk of stroke when you are unable to take blood thinners.
• Radiofrequency ablation — This procedure is considered the "gold standard" for treating AFib, and uses radiofrequency to ensure cells are unable to electrically conduct irregular signals through the heart.
• Sinus node sparing hybrid ablation — During this innovative procedure, an electrophysiologist partners with a cardiac surgeon to treat and cure inappropriate sinus tachycardia.