Cardiac Services Provided at Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center

Electrophysiology Lab

In February 2003 Mohawk Valley Heart Institute expanded its cardiac services to include electrophysiology. Our program has grown substantially, with almost 600 procedures on over 530 patients since that time, and now includes three electrophysiologists on staff. Many of our patients travel here from outside the region to benefit from our expertise and state-of-the-art facilities.

Electrophysiology procedures include:
  • EP Studies: These catheter-based procedures determine the location of abnormal electrical rhythms or pathways within the heart. The electrophysiologist determines a treatment based on the findings. Treatment might include medication, ablation, a pacemaker, or an implantable defibrillator.
  • Tilt Table Testing: This test is used to diagnose patients who have suffered fainting spells of syncope, and can often determine the reason patients "pass out." Like many other tests, this can be done on an outpatient basis, requiring only a short hospital visit.
  • Cardioversion: This procedure uses an electrical current, delivered externally to the heart, in an attempt to convert abnormal heart rhythms to regular, normal rhythms. This is a minimally invasive procedure, requiring only a short outpatient visit.
  • Ablation: This technique involves advancing a catheter (small tube) into the heart through an artery or vein to treat abnormal heart rhythms. These might include ventricular tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, or other dangerous, rapid heart rhythms. Ablation is minimally invasive, can be done with an overnight stay in the hospital, and often supplants previously prescribed medication.
  • Pacemaker Implants: This surgical procedure may be required for patients who have a very slow heart rate. After implantation, the pacemaker will be activated when the heart rate is not fast enough. Insertions are performed in an operating room and generally require an overnight stay in the hospital.
  • Internal Cardiac Defibrillator Implants: Patients with dangerously fast heart rhythms often require internal defibrillators. Defibrillators can prevent sudden death in patients suffering from malignant cardiac rhythms such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. A biventricular intracardiac defibrillator can be implanted in patients who suffer from congestive heart failure, coordinating the rhythm of the heart so that it beats more efficiently, making the heart stronger. This is a very helpful supplement for patients with weak hearts. These life-saving devices can be implanted in an operating room with an overnight hospital stay.

Ambulatory Cardiac Care Unit (ACCU)

This 18-bed nursing unit is dedicated to our cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology patients, before and after procedures. All registered nurses are specifically trained in coronary care and advanced cardiac life support. If a procedure requires an overnight stay, the patient stays in this facility. Our staff specializes in the performance of, and recovery from, these procedures, and we are especially proud of the high marks we receive on patient satisfaction surveys.