Heart rhythm and AFib care in Middle Tennessee
When you notice a change in your heartbeat, such as a flutter or quiver in your chest, don’t delay. Start a conversation about your new symptoms with a cardiologist at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart. Your doctor may also connect you to an electrophysiologist. Electrophysiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of arrhythmia in which your heartbeat is irregular, either too fast or too slow. Other symptoms may include chest pain, sweating, fatigue, shortness of breath, and weakness. Your doctor starts by listening to understand you and uses diagnostic testing to help determine the cause of your irregular heartbeat.
Your doctor may recommend a series of tests. EKGs, heart monitors and other diagnostic tests that are used to help detect an irregular heartbeat. These tests help your doctor understand the cause of your irregular heartbeat. Then, your doctor works with you on a care plan that is right for you. Treatment may include medication, ablation or surgery.
Getting the right care can help prevent heart failure
AFib may come and go and affect how your heart pumps blood through your body, increasing your risk for stroke and congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is a chronic condition that gets worse over time. Getting treatment sooner may help slow the progression and relieve symptoms. Electrophysiologists at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart are part of a national team of doctors, sharing best practices, and we provide advanced treatment options, including:
- Ablation for atrial fibrillation and flutter
- Ablation for ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
- Antiarrhythmic medications
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
- Electrical cardioversion
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) insertion
- Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) /WATCHMAN™
- Pacemaker/ICD lead extraction using a laser system
- Pacemaker insertion
Sometimes, structural or heart valve damage can cause AFib. If surgery is recommended as part of your care plan, your doctor will use minimally invasive options whenever possible. Our heart surgeons specialize in robotic surgery and minimally invasive techniques to help repair your heart valve. During a minimally invasive procedure, tiny incisions are made. Minimally invasive surgery may help shorten your recovery time and lower your risk of infection.
By receiving the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - AFIB Gold quality achievement award, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital is nationally recognized for its commitment to quality improvement in AFib care, ultimately helping to reduce patients’ stroke risk.
Get a second opinion for your AFib diagnosis or care plan
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and cardiovascular care plan for AFib are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options for restoring or correcting your heart’s rhythm. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized heart care plan.
When you are facing a new diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. If you are looking for a second opinion for advanced heart care, our cardiologists can also connect you with the right specialists for minimally invasive surgery, including WATCHMAN and ablation. Our heart and vascular specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national care team.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
Heart care that focuses on the whole you
Your specialists and care team collaborate, working together for you and with you. Every appointment with your doctor starts with a conversation about any new symptoms, concerns or questions. At Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, your care team supports you before, during and after an AFib procedure to help you return to the regular daily activities you love. Your doctor works with you to monitor your heart health over time, including connecting you with cardiac rehabilitation and helping manage your medications to make sure they are working well for you.
