Dr. Konstantinos Kossidas is an electrophysiologist at the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth.
Q: What is electrophysiology?
A: Electrophysiology is a specialized area of cardiology. Electricity regulates your heart rate. How the electrical signal is created and conducted through the heart determines whether you have a normal or abnormal heart rate.
Cardiac electrophysiologists are medical doctors with advanced training in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the heart’s electrical activity. They are experts in managing abnormal heart rhythm (heart rate that can be too fast, too slow or irregular) through various treatments, including medications, implantable devices (like pacemakers and defibrillators) and procedures such as catheter ablation.
By focusing on the heart’s electrical function, electrophysiologists play a crucial role in preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions that can lead to more serious issues like stroke, heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Their work is essential for patients with heart rhythm problems, ensuring that the most appropriate and effective treatment plan is provided.
Q: What types of conditions do electrophysiologists commonly treat?
A: Electrophysiologists are electricians for the heart. Some of the conditions we commonly treat include atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rate), supraventricular tachycardia (fast heart rate originating from the top chamber of the heart), ventricular tachycardia ( fast heart rate originating from the bottom chamber of the heart, premature ventricular contractions (extra heart beat) bradycardia (slow heart rate) and syncope (passing out).
Q: What is atrial fibrillation?
A: Atrial fibrillation – or AFib – is one of the most common arrhythmias. In a healthy heart with sinus (normal) rhythm, the electrical signals begin in the top chambers of the heart (atria) and conduct in an organized way to the bottom chambers (ventricles). In a heart with AFib, the electrical signals in the top chambers are unorganized and become chaotic. This leads to a fast, irregular heartbeat. Untreated AFib can put you at a higher risk for stroke and heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.
Q: What are the typical symptoms of AFib?
A: Some people with AFib notice heart palpitations. This may feel like their heart is beating too fast or irregularly. It has been described as a fluttering sensation in the chest, or butterflies. Other common symptoms include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath with exercise, lightheadedness, chest pain or just “feeling off.”
Unfortunately, AFib increases your risk for stroke. A significant percentage of people don’t experience any symptoms and their first indication of AFib is when they have a stroke, which is one of the reasons why the earlier we diagnose and treat the condition, the better.
Q: What treatments do you offer for people with AFib?
A: We can try to control the irregular heart rate with medications. We may also try to restore a normal rhythm using cardioversion, the use of electric energy shocks to reset heart rhythm.
For many patients experiencing irregular heart rhythms, ablation is one of the most effective treatments. This procedure involves the use of energy to create a scar and block the heart’s faulty electrical signals with the eventual result of restoring the normal rhythm.
Q: How does a defibrillator work?
A: Some people may benefit from an implanted defibrillator. These devices can be lifesaving. An implanted defibrillator is surgically placed and monitors the heart’s rhythm continuously. It automatically delivers an electrical pulse to correct the rhythm if it detects an excessively rapid heartbeat originating from the ventricles (lower chamber of the heart).
Q: How does the Aurora EV-ICDTM work?
A: Like any defibrillator, the goal of the Aurora EV-ICD™ is to protect a person from dying if lethal arrhythmias originating from the bottom chamber of the heart take place. Its technology aims to prevent sudden cardiac death for people at risk for ventricular tachycardia (the heart beats more quickly) or ventricular fibrillation (the heart beats in an irregular rhythm).
Defibrillators have been around for decades. The novelty of this device is that there’s no wire that connects to the heart inside the venous system. Plus, the Aurora EV-ICD™ is long-lasting. Because there are no wires, there’s less chance of infection and no risk of complications associated with implanting a transvenous lead.
Q: How do patients usually receive electrophysiology services?
A: Most patients are referred to an electrophysiologist by their cardiologist. Some patients come to us through a referral from their primary care or an emergency department provider.
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of AFib, start with a visit to your primary care provider or cardiologist if you have one. If you don’t have any symptoms and receive a notification from your smartphone or other smart health monitor that you may have a heart issue, you should see your primary care provider.
It’s important that you don’t delay care. That’s because the earlier we can treat AFib, the more effective the treatment will be and the slower it may progress.
The team at St. Elizabeth Healthcare stays up-to-date on the latest advances in the field of heart and vascular medicine. Electrophysiology is a rapidly evolving subspecialty – and we are proud to bring the latest techniques and treatments to our northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, and surrounding communities. Learn more about electrophysiology and arrhythmia care at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
