DGMC pumps life into hearts

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Tamiko Gheen
  • 60th Medical Support Squadron group practice manager
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Arrhythmias, or heart rhythm disorders, is the term for any change from the normal sequence of electrical impulses of the heart.

Arrhythmias can often be harmless and are left untreated if deemed as clinically insignificant.

However, if your provider determines your arrhythmia is clinically significant and can put you at risk of complications in the future, there are a variety of treatment options. One option is to treat the arrhythmia with minimally invasive electrophysiology procedures.

The heart, lung and vascular center stood up the electrophysiology service last year. Through a state of the art upgrade to the cardiac catheterization lab, heart, lung and vascular center began offering the full scope of cardiac electrophysiology care in January 2013.

Some heart rhythm disorders are best treated with medications or implanted devices known as pacemakers or defibrillators. However, arrhythmias can now be diagnosed and cured through minimally invasive procedures known as electrophysiology studies and catheter ablations.

Electrophysiology studies involve the use of specialized catheters to study the electrical circuits of the heart. By studying the electrical circuits of the heart, the cause of an arrhythmia can be discovered. Once the cause is identified, a catheter ablation can be performed to fix the heart rhythm abnormality.

Abnormalities that can be treated via this approach include supra ventricular tachycardias, ventricular tachycardias, premature ventricular contractions, atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. Consultations are available via Dr. (Col.) Mark Kolasa, 60th Medical Surgical Operations Squadron cardiac electrophysiologist/cardiologist.

For more information, call the heart, lung and vascular center at 423-2300.

In honor of American Heart Month, heart, lung and vascular will feature a clinic or service every week in February. Happy American Heart Month.