Heart Rhythm Programme

Heart rhythm conditions (arrhythmias) often require complex procedures that are available in tertiary cardiovascular centres such as NUHCS.

The NUHCS' Heart Rhythm Programme or Arrhythmia Service forms an important partnership with the Heart Failure Programme, where it co-manages high-risk patients.

The collaboration between the heart rhythm and heart failure programmes is important as heart failure patients frequently have arrhythmias. Cardiac devices such as biventricular pacemakers and defibrillators improve outcomes and quality of life in heart failure patients. Electrophysiological study and ablation may also be required in these patients to manage rhythm disorders.

With an ageing population, inappropriately slow heart rhythms (bradycardia) and conduction blocks are increasingly common as is arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.

In addition to having experience in these tertiary-level cardiovascular services, NUHCS is a regional referral centre for arrhythmia and heart failure related disorders.

This programme includes the diagnosis and management of:

• Heart arrhythmias such as:
  • Premature (extra) bears
  • Supraventricular arrhythmias
  • Ventricular arrhythmias
  • Bradyarrhythmias
• Heart failure
• Congenital and structural heart disease with arrhythmia
• Cardiac implantable devices
• Pacemakers
• Biventricular pacing (cardiac resynchronisation therapy)
• Implantable defibrillators
• Implantable loop recorders

The treatments offered include:

• Counselling on lifestyle changes
• Medications that help:
  • Control and regulate the heart rate
  • Reduce the risk of stroke
• Surgical procedures such as:
  • Electrophysiological study (EPS) with radiofrequency ablation
  • With/without 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping
  • The implantation of a pacemaker, which is a small electronic device that maintains the heart rate
  • Specialised (biventricular) pacemakers in the treatment of heart failure to “resynchronise” the heart leading to an improvement in heart function, reduction in heart failure hospitalisation and improvement in survival
  • Implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator that is capable of detecting a dangerous heart rhythm when it occurs and deliver a “shock” to rescue the patient
  • Implantation of a loop recorder to diagnose infrequent arrhythmias, aid diagnosis in unexplained syncope or suspected occult atrial fibrillation