Patients with heart rhythm problems – or arrhythmias – now have access to safer, more effective treatment at Prairie Heart Institute

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464, ext. 44306.

SPRINGFIELD -- Electrophysiologist James Mullin, MD, says a special EP lab, designed for treating arrhythmias, was recently outfitted with spectacular new equipment. Both Dr. Mullin and electrophysiologist Kriegh Moulton, MD, are using the lab for patients who need implanted devices such as defibrillators and pacemakers to regulate their heart beat, and congestive heart failure patients who need pacemakers or defibrillators. They also use the EP lab for performing cardiac ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that destroys very small areas of heart tissue that are causing abnormal rhythms.

“The equipment produces superbly crisp, clear images of the heart’s chambers and veins, allowing us to see the anatomy very well,” says Dr. Mullin. “This improves the effectiveness and safety of procedures and patient outcomes. We’re also able to couple great imaging with computerized 3-D mapping of the heart’s electrical system.”

Dr. Mullin says the equipment is safer for patients and staff. “In many procedures, we use fluoroscopy – a type of X-ray image – to guide us,” he explains. “The new equipment exposes patients and EP lab staff to much lower levels of radiation, decreasing the risk of radiation injury.”

Treatment of arrhythmia disorders is the fastest growing area of cardiology and the numbers are expected to increase further with the aging of Baby Boomers. Some arrhythmias don’t cause any symptoms, while others create the distinct feeling of an irregular beat, a fluttering sensation or rapid heartbeat. A slow heartbeat may cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness or fainting. It’s important to note that most adults will, at some point, experience fleeting heart rhythm changes that are harmless.