Cardiology

We provide acute cardiac care in our specialized heart centers, electrophysiology laboratories and programs, including our:

• Aortic care center
• Cardiac alert program
• Comprehensive valve clinic
• Lung nodule clinic
• Rhythm and valve centers

Our Accredited Chest Pain Center is proud to offer the subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD). This is a newer alternative to a traditional ICD device for ventricular fibrilation, which can result in heart attack. The S-ICD helps prevent heart attack and monitors your heart rhythm, bringing it back to normal when a fast or abnormal heart beat is detected.

We provide outstanding care for heart attacks, which is why we have received The Joint Commission Gold Seal Certificate of Distinction for Myocardial Infarction. This means our program meets clinical performance standards for targeted metrics as well as other compliance standards.

We provide a variety of heart screening and imaging services to diagnose and determine the best treatment option for your individual condition. Along with chest X-rays and blood tests, we may also perform:

• Cardiac catheterization (cath)
• Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan
• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Echocardiogram (echo)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Holter monitoring

From advanced tools for diagnosing conditions to the latest surgical innovations in our hybrid operating room, our cardiac hospital is at the forefront of heart care. Our cardiothoracic procedures and technologies include convergent maze implants and robotic surgeries.

We have an advanced cardiac cath lab open 24/7. We treat various cardiac conditions, such as heart disease or irregularities.

To ensure your treatment is comprehensive, the cath lab is equipped with advanced minimally invasive surgical technology. This reduces the recovery time and scarring associated with traditional surgical procedures.

To learn more about our cardiac cath lab, please call (804) 483-2350.

What is Atrial fibrillation (AFib)?

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a common type of cardiac arrythmia, or irregular heartbeat. It happens when the upper chambers of the heart, also called "atria," beat irregularly because of disorganized electrical signals in the heart. You could have paroxysmal AFib, meaning the irregular heartbeat doesn't happen all the time; or persistent AFib, meaning an irregular heartbeat lasting more than 7 days.

Symptoms of AFib include:

• Shortness of breath
• Racing heart, fluttering or palpitations
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue

AFib can put you at risk of other complications:

• Blood clots: an irregular heartbeat can cause blood to pool and form clots in an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage, or LAA.
• Stroke: If a blood clot forms in the LAA, it can travel to another part of your body and cause a stroke.
• Heart failure: If AFib continues over a long time, the decreased efficiency of the heart can lead to heart failure.

Common treatments to manage AFib include:

• Lifestyle changes, such as eating a heart-healthy diet and watching alcohol and caffeine intake
• Medications, which can manage the heart rhythm or reduce the risk of blood clots
• Procedures, such as cardiac ablation, to restore a normal heart rhythm

What is pulsed field ablation?

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) uses electrical pulses to target malfunctioning cells in the atria in order to stop AFib symptoms and return your heartbeat back to normal.

During a traditional ablation procedure, a catheter is guided to the interior of the heart and generates extreme temperatures – hot or cold – to destroy targeted areas in the heart associated with abnormal heart rhythms. PFA, however, relies on tissue selective, non-thermal electric fields to ablate heart tissue and avoid damage to surrounding structures, with no permanent phrenic nerve palsy, pulmonary vein stenosis or esophageal injury. The procedure only takes appropriately an hour and patients go home the same day.

Cryoablation is a minimally-invasive, outpatient, cardiac ablation for treating AFib in which a balloon catheter delivers cryotherapy at the opening of the pulmonary veins, freezing the target tissue and creating small scars to block the irregular electrical signals that cause arrhythmia. Patients who receive this treatment experience a reduced risk of AFib reoccurring and go home the same day.

We are committed to providing you with the cardiac care you deserve to aid in a fast recovery after a heart attack or surgery. Our dedicated team of nurses, exercise physiologists and dietitians will help you and your family adjust to changes in your life after a cardiac event. We provide you the cardiac rehabilitation services and resources you need to get back to your active lifestyle.