Cardiac Electrophysiology

If your child has an abnormal heart rhythm or other suspected heart ailment, he or she may need to see an electrophysiologist.

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1-888-573-5437

Electrophysiologists evaluate and treat patients using medicine, pacemakers, internal cardiac defibrillators, and other study techniques.

Our specialists perform a wide variety of procedures and tests including:

Treadmill testing
Tilt table testing (used to diagnose unexplained fainting)
Electrophysiologic studies (evaluating the heart rhythm by catheterization)

Ablation therapy (permanently curing patients of abnormal heart rhythms by catheterization)
Pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation
Treatment of arrhythmias in complex congenital heart disease

University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is home to one of the busiest pediatric electrophysiology centers in the Midwest, and it has the only pediatric interventional electrophysiologists in Iowa.

Our specialty clinic is made up of experienced, leading experts with accomplished knowledge of the unique challenges posed by children with these serious conditions. They perform more than 100 pediatric cardiac ablations every year at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital and another 75-plus ablations at centers across the country, which represent high volumes for this complex specialty.

Currently our physicians train other physicians from around the country to perform radiation free electrophysiology studies and ablations.

Areas of expertise

Radiation Free Studies

UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital is one of the few centers in the nation to perform radiation free catheterization procedures in select cases. We are involved in training other physicians in this advanced technique.

Cryothermal Ablation

Our multidisciplinary team uses cryotherapy (cold therapy in place of heat therapy) in patients with arrhythmias that have a higher risk of damaging the normal conduction tissue. Cryotherapy, though it takes longer, is safer in select cases.

3-D Mapping Systems

We use 3-D mapping tools to accurately map and identify the arrhythmias. This technique is more accurate than the traditional radiation guided technique and allows radiation free procedures to be performed.

Pacemaker and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation

Our electrophysiologists work closely with the cardiothoracic surgeons to implant pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators in infants and children, or in those with congenital heart disease. The team has implanted devices in patients’ structurally normal heart, as well as in patients with complex congenital heart disease and history of major cardiac surgery.