Arrhythmia Treatment Options
Lifestyle Modification
Factors such as stress, caffeine, or alcohol can cause arrhythmias. Your physician may order the elimination of caffeine, alcohol (teens and young adults), or any other substance believed to be causing the problem. If stress is suspected as a cause, your physician may recommend stress-reduction measures such as an exercise program or therapy.
Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Used to change or regulate electrical signals within the heart restoring normal heart rhythm and/or preventing reoccurrence of arrhythmias.
Catheter Ablation
Electrode catheters are used to ablate (destroy) small areas of heart tissue that contain irregular electrical pathways. Doctors direct the Catheter, a thin tube, through blood vessels toward the heart and close to the area containing the abnormal pathway. Heat energy is then passed through it and the tip of the catheter heats up and destroys the small area of tissue.
Pacemaker
A permanent pacemaker is a small device that is implanted under the skin and sends electrical signals to start or regulate a slow heartbeat If the heart is beating to slowly, pacing wires/leads carry an electrical impulse to the heart causing it to beat at a proper rate. A permanent pacemaker may be used to make the heart beat if the heart's natural pacemaker (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) is not functioning properly and has developed an abnormal heart rate or rhythm or if the electrical pathways are blocked. Pacemakers are typically used for slow arrhythmias such as sinus bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, or heart block.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
An implantable converter defibrillator (ICD) is a small device, similar to a pacemaker, that is implanted under the skin, often in the shoulder area just under the collarbone. An ICD senses the rate of the heartbeat. When the heart rate exceeds a rate programmed into the device, it delivers a small, electrical shock to the heart to slow the heart rate. Many newer ICDs can also function as a pacemaker by delivering an electrical signal to regulate a heart rate that is too slow. ICDs are typically used for fast arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia.
Cardioversion
A procedure to attempt to restore normal heart rhythm by sending a perfectly timed electrical shock to the heart causing all the heart cells to contract at once. All electrical activity in heart stops for a brief moment. When it resumes the normal heart rhythm is restored.
Surgery
Surgical treatment for arrhythmias is usually done only when all other appropriate options have failed. Surgical ablation is a major surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. The chest is opened, exposing the heart. The site of the arrhythmia is located, then destroyed or removed in order to eliminate the arrhythmia.
