Arrhythmia

Overview

Mayo Clinic is internationally recognized for its expertise and experience in the treatment of heart arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm. Many Mayo Clinic physicians are internationally known for their work in heart rhythm disorders. Patients benefit from Mayo Clinic's expertise and experience in arrhythmia diagnosis and treatment, including some complex procedures that are offered at only a few medical centers in the United States.

Mayo Clinic is an international leader in catheter ablation and implantable devices and uses the most advanced technology to treat arrhythmias. Mayo has more than 25 years of experience in treating patients who have a variety of heart arrhythmias. Physicians perform thousands of electrophysiology procedures annually.

Diagnosis

The medical teams that treat heart arrhythmia patients at Mayo Clinic are led by electrophysiologists (cardiologists with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders). Diagnosis often includes electrophysiologic testing for potentially serious arrhythmias. Read more about arrhythmia diagnosis.

Treatment

The decision for medical treatment, and the method selected, can be made only after a comprehensive diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic Model of Care emphasizes an integrated, collaborative team approach to provide the most appropriate care for each patient.

Usually, medical treatment is required if the arrhythmia causes significant symptoms or puts the patient at risk of more serious complications. Some nonserious types of arrhythmia do not require medical treatment, but regular checkups are recommended.

Depending on the cause of the abnormal rhythm, arrhythmias can be treated at Mayo Clinic with:

• Surgery
• Medical devices, such as pacemakers
• Nonsurgical procedures
• Medications

Mayo Clinic can offer patients, when appropriate, experimental treatments through clinical trials, which often are unavailable at other medical centers.

Follow-up care for patients is another essential component of Mayo Clinic's treatment for heart arrhythmia. Read more about arrhythmia treatment.

About Arrhythmia

Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) occur when there is a malfunction in the electrical impulses to the heart that coordinate how the heart beats. During arrhythmia, the heart beats too fast, too slowly or irregularly.

Most people have experienced occasional, brief, usually harmless arrhythmias in the form of a skipped, fluttering or racing heartbeat. However, more than 4 million Americans, most over age 60, have heart arrhythmias that may cause bothersome, sometimes even dangerous, signs or symptoms. These symptoms may include shortness of breath, fainting or even sudden cardiac arrest — an unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness that can lead to death within minutes unless emergency medical treatment is administered to restart the heart.

Read more about arrhythmia at MayoClinic.com.