Arrhythmia Care

Our approach to arrhythmia care

If you have an arrhythmia, it can cause a wide range of symptoms and health problems. This can include fatigue, shortness of breath and even stroke. 

The good news is that most arrhythmias are manageable — and sometimes even curable. And that’s where electrophysiologists at UCI Health come in.

Our electrophysiologists are cardiologists who are highly experienced in treating arrhythmias. They take a shared decision-making approach to your care. This means we work with you to personalize your arrhythmia care, prioritizing your goals and preferences.

Your partner in care

This partnership starts at your first appointment. Your electrophysiologist will take time to get to know you and understand how your arrhythmia affects your life. 

They’ll discuss:

• The type of arrhythmia you have, whether it’s atrial fibrillation (AFib), bradycardia, tachycardia or another heart rhythm condition
• Your symptoms
• The risks the arrhythmia poses to your health and quality of life
• Your treatment goals, expectations and preferences
• Treatment options (e.g., medications, cardiac ablation, surgery), along with the risks and benefits of each treatment

With this information, they’ll develop a treatment plan tailored to you. At the end of your visit, you’ll have a clear treatment plan and next steps.

Why choose UCI Health for arrhythmia care?

Team-based arrhythmia care

At UCI Health, you’ll have an entire team of arrhythmia specialists in your corner. For instance, our left atrial appendage closure (Watchman) program for AFib includes a weekly meeting for every case. The team — including electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists and others — reviews your case and plans the procedure. Together, we focus on the best way to reduce your risk for stroke with this innovative procedure. 

Minimally invasive ablation

One of the most effective ways our team treats some arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation (AFib), is with cardiac ablation. We specialize in this minimally invasive procedure, which uses heat or cold to create tiny scars on the heart. These scars ultimately block the transmission of irregular heart signals, normalize your heartbeat and relieve your AFib symptoms.  

The latest pacemaker technology

If you need an implantable pacemaker to manage your arrhythmia, UCI Health offers leadless (wireless) pacemakers. This innovative technology offers you many benefits, including lower risk of complications, more comfort and faster recovery time. The leadless pacemaker can also be an option if you are not a good candidate for a traditional pacemaker.

Clinical trials for arrhythmias

As the only academic health system in Orange County, UCI Health leads and participates in clinical trials for arrhythmias. These trials are looking at new, effective ways to alleviate arrhythmia symptoms and reduce your risks for complications. You may have access to these therapies that are not yet widely available. 

Comprehensive heart care

Arrhythmias are often associated with other heart conditions. And at UCI Health, our specialists all work together to ensure you’ll get the comprehensive heart care services you need. Our highly specialized team includes experts in general cardiology, preventive cardiology, heart surgery, heart failure, cardiac rehab and more.