Cardiac Electrophysiology and Ablations

With subspecialty training in cardiac electrophysiology and cardiac electronic implanted devices, Dr Freeman specialises in heart rhythm disorders. Dr Freeman examines the heart's timing, or electrical system and diagnoses and treats irregular heartbeats known as arrhythmias. This is accomplished through minimally invasive catheter-based tests such as electrophysiology studies, and procedures such as ablations.

Dr Freeman performs diagnostic electrophysiology studies. When the heart doesn’t beat normally, electrophysiology studies are used to find out why. The test is done while the patient is sedated but awake. It involves the insertion of electrically sensitive catheters and wire electrodes through blood vessels that enter the heart. The electrodes send electrical signals to the heart and record and measure its electrical activity. These studies take place in a special room called a catheterization (cath) lab. The results can help Dr Freeman and the patient to decide whether they require surgery, the implantation of a cardiac electronic device, cardiac ablation, or medication. Heart attacks, ageing, and high blood pressure may cause scarring of the heart. The scarring may cause the heart to beat in an irregular pattern. Extra or abnormal electrical pathways found in certain congenital heart defects can also cause irregular heartbeats.

Common symptoms associated with arrhythmia include:

  • Palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Slow or fast heart beats
  • Syncope, which is the temporary loss of consciousness or fainting caused by a fall in blood pressure.
  • Patients with heart rhythm disorders including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, ectopic beats, ventricular tachycardia, and inherited arrhythmias.
  • Cardiomyopathies, which is a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle.

Ablation procedures treat arrhythmias by destroying the place inside the heart that is causing the abnormal electrical signal(s). It uses catheterization to administer either heat (radiofrequency ablation) or freezing (cryoablation). EP studies and ablations can be done during the same procedure. Different types of ablation procedures include:

  • Atrial fibrillation ablation
  • Atrial flutter ablation
  • Supraventricular tachycardia ablation
  • Ventricular ectopy
  • Ventricular tachycardia ablation

Doctor Freeman will discuss the benefits and risks before proceeding with tests or procedures.