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Our electrophysiology specialists provide pacemaker placement and ICD implantation to treat heart rhythm disorders and reduce dangerous rhythm risk.
Telehealth appointments are available.
Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) help when a heart rhythm condition causes symptoms or raises risk. Our experts evaluate your rhythm, explain what your results mean and guide you toward the right arrhythmia treatment.
A pacemaker supports your heart when it beats too slowly or pauses, which can happen with conduction disorders. An ICD, meanwhile, can protect against dangerous fast rhythms from the lower chambers, such as ventricular tachycardia (VT). Many patients start with an evaluation for cardiac arrhythmias to understand what’s happening and which arrhythmia treatment fits.
If your care team suspects atrial fibrillation (AFib), they’ll look at how often episodes happen, how your symptoms feel and what your tests show. Then, they’ll build a plan that may include medication, heart rhythm monitoring or pacemaker placement. If you pass out or feel close to it, your team may also evaluate syncope, the medical word for fainting, to understand the cause.
A pacemaker is a small device that helps the heart keep a steady pace. It sends electrical signals to pace the heart when it beats too slowly or pauses.
An ICD monitors your heart rhythm all the time. Some ICDs also provide pacing support.
Some patients benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), also called biventricular pacing. CRT helps the heart’s lower chambers beat in a more coordinated way. CRT-P (pacemaker) provides biventricular pacing. CRT-D (defibrillator) combines biventricular pacing with defibrillator therapy.
Your specialist may recommend device therapy if you have symptoms, rhythm findings or risk factors such as:
To choose the right device, your team reviews your symptoms, medical history, medications and test results. The goal is to confirm the rhythm diagnosis, understand your risk and match the best device to your needs. Your evaluation may include cardiac imaging to check the heart’s structure and function.
With heart rhythm monitoring, your specialist tracks your heartbeat during normal life, especially when symptoms come and go. If episodes occur less often, continuous heart monitoring gives a longer window, so your team has a better chance to catch what’s happening.
The team places the device under the skin, often near the upper chest. Thin, flexible wires called leads run from the device to the heart. The device can sense your heartbeat and deliver pacing or therapy when needed. Before you leave the procedure area, your team tests the device and leads to confirm everything works as expected. They’ll also review which device you received and why it fits your diagnosis, how to handle medications before and after the procedure, and what to expect after you go home.
Most patients go home the same day or after a short stay, depending on the device and your overall health. Before you leave, the team walks through how to care for the incision, what to avoid for a short time (especially certain arm movements and heavy lifting), when you can return to work and exercise, and which symptoms mean you should get help right away.
Get immediate emergency care for any chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting or stroke symptoms.
Device therapy works best with consistent follow-up with your provider. Your team will track how the device is functioning, any symptoms you experience and the status of the device battery.
You see electrophysiology and cardiovascular specialists who manage complex rhythm disorders, from AFib to ventricular tachycardia.
Your team guides evaluation, device choice, implant care and long-term follow-up in one coordinated plan.
You have access to the latest technologies, such as intracardiac ultrasound and 3D mapping.
Clinical trials may offer eligibility for newer device approaches, such as leadless pacemaker studies, when appropriate.
