Heart Rhythm Disorders

Heart rhythm disorders range from palpitations that are barely noticeable, to ventricular fibrillation that can kill within minutes. For over 25 years, the Strong Heart & Vascular Center has been a world-leader in the study and treatment of heart rhythm disorders.

Restarting the heart. The ventricles are the lower chambers of the heart, responsible for the strong pumping action that sends blood to the body and to the lungs. Some people—especially those who have had heart attacks—are at risk of the ventricles suddenly “fibrillating.” This means that the ventricles begin vibrating, instead of pumping as strongly as they should. Sadly, if the heart isn’t returned to its regular rhythm, ventricular fibrillation will lead to death within minutes. Fortunately, the Strong Heart & Vascular Center has been one of the world’s leaders in developing defibrillators. These implantable devices shock the heart back to its normal rhythm when needed, thus preventing death from ventricular fibrillation. People come from around the world to take advantage of our expertise in this area, and as a result, thousands of lives are saved every year.

Helping a heart that’s beating too slow. When your heart beats slower than it should, less oxygen-rich blood gets to your brain. This condition, called bradycardia, can cause you to experience fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting or shortness of breath. While this condition is typically not life-threatening, it can certainly decrease your quality of life. The Strong Heart & Vascular Center has cardiologists specializing in this condition and their efforts are devoted both to treatment as well as to conducting research in order to learn more about it. Currently, bradycardia, may be treated with medication or a pacemaker.

Changing medical guidelines nationwide. People who have had a heart attack are at an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. This is a situation where the ventricles of the heart begin to quiver instead of beat, ultimately leading to death within minutes if left untreated. However, research conducted by doctors at the Strong Heart & Vascular Center is providing new hope for people at risk of sudden cardiac death—not just here in Rochester, but worldwide. The MADIT II trial, led by Dr. Arthur Moss and the University of Rochester Medical Center, discovered that the risk of sudden cardiac death could be reduced substantially in heart attack survivors. The solution provided was a device called an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator, or ICD. With an ICD, when a person’s heart begins to fibrillate instead of beat, the device provides a shock putting the heart back into its normal rhythm. Due to the MADIT II research, 100,000 heart attack survivors nationwide are now eligible to receive ICDs.

Helping prevent sudden cardiac death in children. Each year, communities across the country are shocked when children suffer sudden cardiac death, which often occurs during sporting events. The chief cause of this tragedy, Long QT Syndrome, was first identified and researched here by Arthur Moss, M.D. Dr. Moss was the driver behind a study that showed how defibrillators could save many of these lives. He continues to lead research that is identifying the risk factors in Long QT Syndrome—helping many families and communities to keep their children alive and healthy. As a result, families from around the world bring their children to the Strong Heart & Vascular Center for the treatment of Long QT Syndrome and other heart rhythm disorders.

Curing Atrial Fibrillation. The atria are the top two chambers of the heart. They receive blood from the body and lungs, and then pump it into the more powerful ventricles below. The atria usually beat along with the ventricles, but in people with atrial fibrillation, the atria will have episodes where they just flutter or vibrate. This can cause dizzy spells and fainting. If left untreated, it can lead to the formation of blood clots and to stroke. People with atrial fibrillation can sometimes find relief through medication. However, now there is a procedure called an ablation that can often provide a cure. In an ablation, a special doctor called an EP Cardiologist systematically re-routes the heart’s electrical signal, eliminating the “short-circuits” that cause the heart to flutter. This procedure is done with catheters that are fed through tiny incisions in the patient’s leg. In most cases, people treated with ablations are completely cured of their atrial fibrillation, and can return to all of the activities they previously enjoyed.