January 2002

Marin General's new $3.4 million Electrophysiology Laboratory, one of only 12 in California, has opened to diagnose and treat patients with irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia). Patients will no longer have to seek treatment outside of the county for this lifestyle changing and sometimes fatal condition.

The Johnson Family Foundation Electrophysiology Lab, the only dedicated EP lab between Sacramento and San Francisco that has specially trained staff and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, is part of the Cardiology Program in partnership with the California Pacific Medical Center.

One-of the foremost electrophysiologists in the nation is the lab's consulting medical director. There are approximately 250 electrophysiology labs nationwide.

"Electrophysiology studies the heart's electrical system," said Salwa Beheiry, RN, director of the Electrophysiology Program. "These studies give your doctor the information needed to select the best treatment for your condition. Some abnormal fast heart rates are lethal. Other rhythm problems markedly affect the person's quality of life until the problem can be corrected."

Abnormal electrical impulses cause the heart to beat too slow, too fast or in an irregular or chaotic fashion. Traditionally, these conditions were treated with medications or placement of devices such as pacemakers to help control the heart's rhythm. Newer technologies are now available to offer a cure and better management of the problem.

People with irregular heart rhythm may feel dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, fainting, fluttering in the chest or palpitations, shortness of breath and chest pain or discomfort associated with these palpitations.

A typical diagnostic electrophysiology study takes from one to two hours and is performed by a specially trained doctor. A catheter (flexible wire with multiple recording electrodes at its tip) is inserted through the patient's veins and positioned in the heart. The heart's electrical activity is recorded and the doctor is able to identify the problem.

Depending on the diagnoses, the same catheter or a different one is used to deliver the therapy (radiofrequency ablation) needed to cure the irregular heartbeat. The therapy uses electrical energy to correct the heartbeat.

The lab's consulting medical director is a pioneer in the field of heartbeat mapping and ablation. He is particularly a leader in the area of ablation for atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat originating from the top of the heart) and ventricular tachycardia (irregular heartbeat originating from the bottom of the heart).

Atrial fibrillation affects almost two percent of the population of all ages and 10 to 15 percent of individuals above the age of 60. Former President George Bush and Senator Bill Bradley suffer from this condition.

Ventricular tachycardia, on the other hand, is a serious rhythm problem that can be fatal in many instances if it does not get diagnosed and treated promptly.