Many people have experienced rapid heartbeats, “skipped beats,” or “fluttering” in their chest. These changes can be brought on by exercise, emotion, stress, and caffeine among other things, and are usually not a cause for alarm. Arrhythmias that occur frequently or cause severe symptoms such as dizziness, chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath should be discussed with a doctor.

Atrial fibrillation (“AF”) is the most common arrhythmia, and it affects millions of patients worldwide. Over two million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation. Although it is not life threatening, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms. It can also lead to other problems such as congestive heart failure and stroke.

Until recently, patients with atrial fibrillation had to resign themselves to a lifetime regimen of medications to control their heart rate and reduce their risk of complications. Today, an alternative therapy is curing patients of this common arrhythmia and allowing them to discontinue their medications.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a procedure which uses a high-frequency electrical current to cauterize problematic areas of the heart, is especially beneficial for patients who have not been helped by medications, reports Grant Simons, M.D., Chief of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and Director of the Arrhythmia Center. While RFA boasts a cure rate above 80%, it is only recommended to patients after a thorough consultation. Candidates for RFA are often highly symptomatic and on long-term drug therapy. Most are younger than 70 years of age.

Having performed over 200 AF ablation surgeries at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, cardiac electrophysiologists Dr. Simons, Dr. David Feigenblum and Dr. Dmitry Nemirovsky are among New Jersey’s most experienced in the procedure. They have received advanced training from experts at the top three world centers for atrial fibrillation ablation: at the Cleveland Clinic and at hospitals in Bordeaux, France and Milan, Italy.

The doctors at Englewood Hospital have also recently invented a technique to track the exact location of the esophagus during AF ablation. “This technique,” explains Dr. Simons, “maximizes the effectiveness of the surgery while eliminating the risk of esophageal injury.” This landmark technique was published in the prestigious Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.

The Arrhythmia Center at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is home to the most advanced electrophysiolgy labs in the region. Technologies currently in use include the NavX™ electroanatomic mapping system, which allows physicians to place ablation lesions with pinpoint accuracy, and the AcuNav™ intracardiac catheter ultrasound, which provides a real-time view of the ablation. Both of these vanguard systems maximize success and greatly minimize the risk of stroke and other potential complications of AF ablation procedures.

Advanced technology also allows doctors to diagnose patients and to aid in the determination of the best treatment options. In addition to traditional tests, the Arrhythmia Center also uses state-of-the-art cardiac mapping systems for diagnostic purposes. “Our sophisticated mapping systems give us a clear picture of the heart chambers’ electrical activation in only a few beats, enabling us to identify the precise location of the arrhythmia and target sites for treatment,” says Dr. Feigenblum.

If you suffer from arrhythmia or experience symptoms of an abnormal heartbeat, call Englewood Hospital’s Arrhythmia Center at 201-894-3533.