Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Care

When you choose Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute for your heart rhythm care, you receive personalized, comprehensive treatment of the highest quality. 

Combining extensive clinical expertise with cutting-edge technology, our electrophysiologists and advanced practice providers offer the region’s most comprehensive care for the full spectrum of arrhythmias. And with 9 locations across the Carolinas, the expert care you need is never far.

To schedule an appointment with our skilled specialists, call 704-373-0212.

For educational information about electrophysiology and arrhythmias, visit our FAQ section.

Why choose Sanger for arrhythmia care?

When you come to us for arrhythmia or heart rhythm care, you gain access to:

• The region’s best heart care: Sanger is the region’s top-ranked heart and cardiovascular program according to U.S. News & World Report. With unrivaled expertise and experience you won’t find elsewhere in the region, along with the most innovative treatments and multidisciplinary care – you can count on us to deliver the very best.
• The latest treatments: We offer the most advanced and effective treatments for the full spectrum of heart rhythm conditions, including the most complex arrhythmia disorders. We also offer breakthrough treatments that aren’t available elsewhere in the region through our clinical trials.
• Comprehensive and patient-centered care: Our high-caliber care is tailored to your unique needs and circumstances, not just your heart rhythm symptoms. Sometimes that means working with specialists across different fields, like sleep medicine and behavioral health. We also offer access to educational resources and peer support groups. 
• Experienced device management: If you have an implantable cardiac device, like a pacemaker, we can help you maintain an independent lifestyle and visit the office less often. The Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute Device Clinic is one of the nation’s largest device management clinics, making us an international leader in caring for patients with implanted cardiac devices. Our lead management program is also one of the largest in the nation, offering care for patients dealing with complex device-related issues.
• Specialized care for ventricular arrhythmias: Through our Ventricular Arrhythmia Clinic, our multidisciplinary team of experts provides the region’s most advanced and comprehensive care for ventricular arrythmias. We bring together a diverse team, including specialists in advanced heart failure, cardiac surgery, radiation therapy, genetics, behavioral health and more.

Team approach

To create a personalized care plan and address every aspect of your heart health, we adopt a multidisciplinary team approach and work with experts across different fields. 

Our care team includes: 

• Clinical cardiac electrophysiologists
• Advanced practice providers (physician assistants and nurse practitioners)
• Cardiac device specialists
• Cardiac electrophysiology specialists
• Electrophysiology nurse navigators
• Electrophysiology nursing specialists

We also work with experts in different specialties, including:

• Advanced cardiovascular imaging
• Advanced heart failure
• Behavioral health
• Cardiac surgery 
• Interventional cardiology 
• Pediatric electrophysiology
• Radiation oncology
• Sleep medicine

What to expect from your appointment 

• Before your appointment: Please ask your provider to send us your records, including your medical history, test results and images (such as an echocardiogram, chest X-ray, MRI or CT). 
• During your appointment: You’ll meet with a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist or an advanced practice provider who will review your records.
• After your appointment: Depending on your condition, you may be scheduled for a follow-up appointment with additional testing. Your care team will guide you through your personalized care plan.

Conditions treated

We diagnose and treat all cardiac arrhythmias (heart rhythm disorders), such as:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF or Afib) - results in a rapid, irregular heartbeat due to ineffective contractions of the atria (upper heart chambers)
• Atrial flutter - results in a rapid heartbeat due to electrical activity in the atria (upper heart chambers)
• Bradyarrhythmias - a group of cardiac rhythm disorders, resulting in a slow heartbeat
• Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) - causes an irregular heartbeat with extra beats due to ventricles (lower heart chambers) contracting prematurely 
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) - results in a rapid heartbeat due to an abnormal electrical pathway in the heart
• Ventricular tachycardia (VT) - causes a rapid heartbeat due to a variety of factors in the ventricles (lower heart chambers)
• Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome - results in rapid heartbeats due to an extra electrical pathway

Arrhythmia diagnostic tests 

Pinpointing the exact cause of your arrhythmia or heart rhythm issue is vital since different conditions require different treatments. 

We’ll use one or more of the following tests to diagnose your symptoms:

• CT scan - uses X-rays to produce detailed images of the heart’s structure
• Echocardiogram - uses ultrasound waves to create images of the heart’s structure and function 
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - measures the heart’s electrical activity to detect abnormal rhythms
• Electrophysiology study (EPS) - evaluates the heart’s electrical activity to identify the source of abnormal rhythms
• Exercise stress test - measures the heart’s response to physical activity by monitoring your heart rate and more
• Implantable monitor - device that’s surgically implanted under the skin to monitor heart rhythms
• MRI scan - uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create images of the heart’s structure
• PET scan - uses radioactive substance to create 3D images of the heart’s structure
• Tilt table test - involves tilting a patient on a table to trigger and evaluate the cause of unexplained fainting

Arrhythmia treatments 

We design a customized treatment plan based on the severity of your heart rhythm condition and the symptoms you’re experiencing. Advanced treatments include medication, devices implanted under the skin to regulate or restore normal heartbeat rhythms, and destruction of cells causing abnormal electrical activity.

Your treatment plan will typically involve one or more of the following options: 

• Catheter-based ablation - a nonsurgical procedure, using radiofrequency (heating) or cryo (cooling) ablation, in which a wire or ultra-fine tube is inserted through a vein in the leg and into the heart to disrupt abnormal electrical activity
• Complex laser and mechanical lead and device extraction - removal of a damaged device or its wires when they are causing scarring or infection
• Hybrid ablation - a combination of minimally invasive surgical and catheter-based approaches to disrupt irregular electrical signals in the heart
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) surgery - a small ICD device is implanted under the skin of the chest to manage an abnormal heartbeat
• Left atrial appendage closure - a minimally invasive procedure that reduces the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation patients who are not suited for long-term anticoagulation therapy
• Pacemaker surgery - a pacemaker device is implanted under the skin of the chest to regulate an abnormal heartbeat
• Specialized antiarrhythmic medications - designed to target specific types of arrhythmias by regulating the electrical activity of the heart that causes irregular heartbeats
• Surgical and minimally invasive surgical ablation - creating intentional scar lines on the surface of the heart to redirect abnormal electrical activity

Research and innovations 

Clinical trials 

We are involved in multiple clinical trials as well as investigator-initiated clinical research studies.

Interested in participating in a clinical trial? 

Talk to your doctor or call us at 704-373-0212. You can also find more information on our cardiology research page.

Latest publications and presentations 

Here’s a list of our recent work. 

Make a referral

When you refer a patient to us, we keep you involved and informed throughout the treatment process.

If you’re a potential patient, a self-referral is only necessary if it’s required by your health insurance provider.

If you are a physician, medical professional or you need to self-refer, please call 704-373-0212.

Meet the team

We look forward to meeting and caring for you.