The Cardiac Arrhythmia Unit (CAU) at Hamilton General Hospital provides care for patients who have heart rhythm issues. The CAU includes the Electrophysiology (EP) Lab, which provides same-day care and services.
Care We Provide
The following services and procedures are provided by the Cardiac Arrhythmia Unit:
- Electrophysiology (EP) heart study
- By looking at the electrical system of the heart, an EP study will show if you have a heart rhythm problem and determine the cause. This procedure is done when you have symptoms such as fainting, dizziness, heart palpitations or an abnormal heart beat.
- Ablation
- Used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, a special catheter is placed through a sheath in your groin to your heart. This catheter destroys the tissue causing the problem.
- Pacemakers and Implantable Cardio Defibrillators (ICDs)
- Pacemakers are implanted devices that will initiate a heart beat in those with slow heart rates. ICDs are implanted devices that will shock the heart for life threatening rhythm problems.
- Autonomic laboratory
- This lab performs tests where the patient is tilted with their head up for the diagnosis of patients with fainting or syncope.
- Drug challenges
- Performed in the EP lab to assist in the diagnosis of conditions such as Long QT syndrome (LQTS) or Brugada syndrome.
