Treatment options

Coventry & Warwickshire Heart Rhythm offers a range of treatment options. These are carried out in The Meriden Hospital’s dedicated cardiac catheterisation laboratory and include:

Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) and ablation

EP testing helps diagnose abnormal heart rhythms and identifies areas of the heart that may be affected. A cardiologist (called an electrophysiologist) guides catheters (with electrodes at the tip) into the heart using x-ray imaging and stimulates the heart to test for abnormal heart rhythms. If an abnormal heart rhythm is provoked, the area in the heart responsible for it can be identified and a controlled burn (ablation) of the abnormal tissue can permanently cure the problem.

A new form of ablation treatment can be used to attempt to cure Atrial fibrillation (AF) in certain patients.

Permanent pacemaker implantation

A pacemaker is a small surgically implanted device that controls the heart’s rhythm when it is too slow. Implantation normally requires a small incision only and takes less than an hour to complete. Patients are reviewed at the pacing clinic to ensure the pacemaker is functioning well.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

Certain patients who have experienced a previous cardiac arrest or who are deemed at high risk of a future cardiac arrest may benefit from an ICD. These devices are implanted in a similar way to a pacemaker.

Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) devices

CRT has been shown to be beneficial for selected patients with heart failure, to improve symptoms and quality of life. It is performed in a similar way to an ordinary pacemaker implant, but involves placing pacing wires to the right and left sides of the heart to improve the overall heart pump function. Often an ICD is incorporated into the CRT device.