Heart rhythm management

Catheter ablation

Catheter ablation is used to treat cardiac arrhythmias. A catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is inserted into the heart through an artery or vein. A special device delivers energy to destroy (ablate) a small section of tissue that is causing the abnormal rhythm. This disconnects the abnormal pathway. Catheter ablation can be used to treat atrial fibrillation or flutter, atrial or ventricular tachycardia,   supraventricular tachycardia  and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Permanent pacemaker

A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated electronic device that is inserted under the skin to help the heart beat at an appropriate rate. It usually is inserted through a small incision on the left side of the chest, into a small “pocket” that is created under the skin. Pacemakers often are used to treat people with bradycardia, a condition that causes the heart to beat too slowly.

•  Pacemaker home care and discharge instructions (PDF)

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is an electronic device placed under the skin of the collarbone to continuously monitor heart rhythms for fast heart rates, which may be life threatening. The device is about the size of a pager. If it senses the heart is beating too fast, the ICD can pace the heart rhythm to slow down or deliver a shock to break the fast heart rate. ICD is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.

•  Defibrillator home care and discharge instructions (PDF)

Pacemaker treatment for heart failure

In people with heart failure, damage to the heart muscle can cause a heartbeat that is weak or irregular. A pacemaker used to treat heart failure is different from a regular pacemaker – it paces both ventricles, while regular pacemakers pace only the right ventricle. Pacemaker treatment for heart failure also is called cardiac resynchronization therapy or CRT.

Electrical cardioversion

Electrical cardioversion helps return an abnormal heartbeat to normal, through the use of an electrical shock delivered through special patches on the outside of your chest and back. This restores an irregular heartbeat (most commonly atrial fibrillation) to normal, to improve blood flow throughout your body. Electrical cardioversion may help decrease symptoms from an arrhythmia, including breathing difficulties and reduced energy levels. It may reduce your chances of suffering from heart failure or a stroke.

•  Cardioversion fact sheet (PDF)