Heart Rhythm Stabilization

Conditions Treated

• Slow Heart Beat (bradycardia)
• Fast Heart Beat (tachycardia)
• Irregular Heart Beats (atrial fibrillation)
• Palpitations (premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs)
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Long QT and Short QT Syndromes

Pacemakers

A pacemaker is a small device placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

What to Expect

Your doctor will give you local anesthesia and a mild sedative to alleviate discomfort. They will insert the internal portion of your pacemaker then they will connect and program the outer device.

Duration

The entire procedure takes about 2 hours.

Recovery

Most patients return home within 24 hours.

Types of Pacemakers

ICDs (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator)

An ICD is a battery-powered device that tracks your heart rate. If it detects an abnormal heart beat, it will deliver a small electric pulse to restore your normal rhythm.

BIV-ICD (Biventricular Pacemaker and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator)

A biventricular pacemaker and ICD is a small, lightweight device that helps keep your heart pumping normally. It also protects those with congestive heart failure (CHF) from dangerous heart rhythms.

Micra™ Pacemaker

This device treats patients who need a single chamber pacemaker. Called the world’s smallest pacemaker, it syncs with your smart phone and works without the use of wires.

Ablations

Ablations alter the tissue in your heart wall that may be causing an irregular heart rhythm.

What to Expect

Your doctor will target the area causing the problem with radiofrequency waves. The procedure takes place in our specially designed electrophysiology (EP) lab and typically requires 2 to 4 hours.

State-of-the-Art Electrophysiology (EP) Suite

We perform this procedure in our dedicated suite for treating heart rhythm conditions.

Duration

Plan for this procedure to take 2 to 4 hours.

Recovery

You will need to stay in the hospital overnight. Most patients return home the next morning.

LAAO Device

An LAAO (left atrial appendage occlusion) device reduces the risk of stroke from blood clots that form during irregular heartbeats (non-valvular atrial fibrillation).

WATCHMAN™

As one of the first programs in SC to use this latest innovation in LAAO technology, we place the WATCHMAN™ device during a one-time, minimally invasive procedure to prevent blood clots.

Additional Benefits

An LAAO device also eliminates the need for long-term anticoagulation treatment in patients who are at risk for bleeding complication.

What to Expect

Performed in the Cath Lab, the procedure only takes about an hour. General and local anesthesia will make you more comfortable and a blood thinner will be used to reduce the risk of complications.

Duration

You will need to stay in the hospital overnight. Most patients return home the next morning.