Arrhythmia Detection and Diagnosis

Mount Sinai Heart's Electrocardiography and Electrophysiology Laboratory uses state-of-the art tools to diagnose all forms of arrhythmia, from atrial fibrillation to ventricular tachycardia. Our nurse specialists and technicians perform around-the-clock monitoring, imaging, and heart-function studies.

Electrocardiography and monitoring. Physicians usually administer an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the electrical activity of the heart. This technology creates a graphic representation of the heart's electrical activity. Some patients benefit from more prolonged monitoring to catch infrequent arrhythmias.

Mount Sinai Heart physicians have pioneered advances in arrhythmia diagnosis. J. Anthony Gomes, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director, Electrophysiology Consultative Service and Senior Consultant, Cardiac Electrophysiology, developed a technology called signal-averaged electrocardiogram. This method analyzes the electrical details of hundreds of heartbeats. Taken together, the details can identify even small irregularities.

"Mount Sinai has been at the forefront of arrhythmia research for decades," says Davendra Mehta MD, PhD, Professor of Cardiology. "We have an excellent team of doctors who offer every available investigative and therapeutic technology."

Diagnostic electrophysiology. Doctors use diagnostic electrophysiology, a minimally invasive technology to pinpoint the area of tissue causing an arrhythmia. The physician sends and receives signals to the heart to create a map of the damage by threading a flexible tube attached to a monitoring electrode through a blood vessel in the groin or neck and into the heart.

"Mount Sinai has all the resources that I could possibly want to help diagnose my patients," says Nicholas Skipitaris, MD, Assistant Professor and Medical Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Operations. "We have cutting-edge diagnostic technology and accomplished physicians who interpret the results."