Your heart is an incredible muscle, beating anywhere from 60 to 100 times per minute to keep blood pumping through your body. When that precise rhythm is disrupted – the beats become too fast, too slow or irregular – you need to find out what’s causing the problem so it can be fixed.

A traditional test of the electrical system that is responsible for normal and abnormal heart rhythms is called an electrophysiology (or EP) study.  During this test, catheters are used to record the electrical activity in your heart and X-ray machines are used to track these catheters inside the body.  While effective, the studies can be lengthy, which leaves both the patient and medical team exposed to radiation during the procedure.

Mansour Razminia, MD, Director of the Arrhythmia Center at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital is working to change that. In 2003, in an effort to reduce or eliminate the radiation exposure, he began searching for a fluoroless (X-ray-free) way to examine and treat arrhythmia patients. His work paid off. By 2010, Dr. Razminia completely eliminated traditional fluoroscopy from his procedures.

Less radiation means better long-term outcomes
Dr. Razminia’s approach, which is currently available through Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, uses 3-D imaging technology instead of X-rays to map the heart and its electrical signals. A high-frequency ultrasound called intracardiac echocardiography, or ICE, helps guide doctors in placing catheters inside the patient so they can see where the arrhythmia is originating.

“Taking X-rays out of the equation means we can perform these tests on children and pregnant women,” says Dr. Razminia. For the general population, radiation-free imaging means fewer risks of serious side effects, such as cancer, skin injury, cataracts and genetic defects.

“This new approach is absolutely a boon for overall wellness,” says Dr. Razminia. Some additional advantages of the fluoroless approach over traditional EP studies include:

• Reduced exposure to radiation, particularly for patients who have already received many other X-ray studies. 
• Reduced risk of orthopedic injury due to prolonged use of lead apparel.
• Enhanced comfort for physicians and personnel during the procedure

Treating your arrhythmia
Arrhythmias can be caused by a number of cardiovascular issues including coronary heart disease, a congenital heart problem or a heart attack. Most people will experience some form of arrhythmia during their lives. An arrhythmia is often a quick, isolated occurrence; but, more serious arrhythmias may cause dangerous disruption to the body’s inner-workings.

Symptoms of arrhythmia include:
• Heart palpitations
• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Diminished ability to exercise
• Fainting

Since these symptoms are shared with other conditions, you and your doctor need to make sure you’re getting a thoughtful and complete workup.  Once your doctor has a preliminary diagnosis of the arrhythmia, there are a few treatment options available.

“Catheter ablation can permanently eradicate an arrhythmia and it can be done during an EP study,” Dr. Razminia says. “For certain rhythm problems where the heart beats too fast or too slow, the best treatment is a pacemaker or defibrillator.”