Arrhythmia Device Clinics & Services

Cardiac devices require routine, detailed follow-up to assure proper function. Emory’s Arrhythmia Program includes several specialty device clinics to provide comprehensive follow-up care.

Device Clinic services include:

• Clinical follow-up of pacemakers, implantable defibrillators (ICDs), loop recorders and CRT (heart failure) devices by all manufacturers
• Remote monitoring / follow-up of implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, as available by manufacturer
• Pre-operative evaluation for device patients scheduled for surgery at an Emory Hospital
• Transtelephonic monitoring for pacemakers
• Event recording monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
• Programming assessments for patients with continued symptoms after device placement
• 24- and 48-hour holter monitoring
• Echocardiographically guided AV optimization for heart failure devices
• 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• Quarterly Patient ICD Support Group meetings
• Patient education and support by experienced and caring staff members

Emory physicians have been national leaders and brought to market many new modalities that are advancing the field of Electrophysiology. Some of the results/procedures that make  of the research Emory physicians have been to develop procedures such as:

• Left atrial occlusion/isolation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. This procedure is an alternative to oral anticoagulants include the Watchman device and an upcoming clinical trial of another occlusion device.
• Using a left ventricular assist device, ventricular tachycardia ablation may be used for high risk patients with hemodynamic instability.
• The subcutaneous ICD system allows insertion without having to place the lead into the veins or the heart. Candidates for this procedure include those with occluded veins, those at high risk for infection, those with congenital heart disease, and those wishing to avoid intravascular lead insertion.
• Modulation of the parasympathetic activity in patients with neurogenic syncope may present an opportunity for treatment in difficult cases with newer methods such as the ablation of parasympathetic ganglia which is in the research stage of development.
• Emory electrophysiologists have accumulated a vast experience in complex lead extractions for infected or malfunctioning ICD pacemaker leads.

Patient Follow-up

Patients with pacemakers or ICD can expect to have follow-up visits every three, six or 12 months depending on the device and patient diagnosis. These follow-up visits are required for optimal device function and monitoring of diagnostics. Patients are encouraged to contact Arrhythmia Center staff with questions or concerns about their device during business hours. Implanted Loop Recorders monitor the rhythms of the heart continuously. They are implanted under the skin on the chest by a cardiologist. They monitor the heart’s rhythm for 18-22 months. The stored information is extracted and evaluated non-invasively every few months.

Emory's Arrhythmia Center patients benefit from the latest innovation in technology - remote monitoring for pacemakers and ICDs (varies by manufacturer). Remote monitoring offers patients the convenient and timesaving option of having a device checked from home instead of coming into the clinic.