Electrophysiology

Our internationally recognised cardiac electrophysiologists focus solely on disorders affecting your heart’s rhythm (arrhythmias). If you’re experiencing heart palpitations, fainting, blackouts or other symptoms, we can help. A multispecialty team provides a prompt diagnosis and advanced treatments to improve your quality of life.

Highlights of our cardiac electrophysiology services include:

• Academic and clinical excellence: Our team of electrophysiologists includes some of the leading arrhythmia experts in the U.K. and the world. Their noteworthy research and publications have helped develop newer, more effective treatment guidelines for heart rhythm disorders. You receive care from a highly skilled team at the top of their field.
• Collaborative care: Consultants across multiple disciplines work together to assess your condition and plan your care. You receive treatment recommendations from specialists in cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, heart surgery and heart imaging, all under one roof.
• Specialised expertise: Our cardiology consultants have experience in key areas of electrophysiology and pacing. Their skill set includes leadless pacemaker implantation, lead extraction and subcutaneous (under the skin) defibrillators. They also specialise in complex conditions such as ventricular arrhythmias, electrical diseases, and inherited arrhythmias and heart muscle conditions. Our team is prepared to treat any heart rhythm disorder.
• Sports cardiology: Cleveland Clinic London is home to a globally renowned sports cardiologist, making us uniquely qualified to care for athletes at any level with heart rhythm disorders. We understand their unique health risks and tailor treatment plans according to their performance goals. Learn more about sports cardiology.
• Innovative equipment: Our state-of-the-art facility has a dedicated electrophysiology lab and a hybrid catheterisation lab. Our hybrid lab combines the most sophisticated imaging and surgical technology, allowing us to perform intricate cardiac structural procedures, including lead extraction.
• 24/7 monitoring: If you need an implanted cardiac device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), you can rest assured our experts are always watching over your heart. We use a state-of-the-art remote monitoring system to keep an eye on your heart’s electrical function 24/7. Your care team is notified immediately if we detect any problems.

Our consultants have the expertise to care for common and complex arrhythmias, including:

• Atrial fibrillation (Afib).
• Atrial flutter.
• Bradycardia.
• Heart block.
• Heart failure.
• Premature atrial and ventricular contractions.
• Sick sinus syndrome.
• Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.
• Tachycardia, including atrial, ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia.

We also treat inherited heart rhythm diseases, including:

• Brugada syndrome.
• Familial cardiomyopathies.
• Long QT syndrome.
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Heart Rhythm Disorder Diagnosis

Our consultants use the latest technology to assess and diagnose heart rhythm problems, including 3D electro-anatomical mapping. We create highly detailed maps of your heart to pinpoint the exact source of the arrhythmia, enabling us to provide more accurate, effective treatment. We also offer advanced non-invasive diagnostic services for rapid diagnosis, including cardiac monitoring devices that employ artificial intelligence. Learn more about our heart imaging services.

Heart Rhythm Disorder Treatment

We’re committed to bringing you the newest, most effective innovations in arrhythmia care. Our cardiologists specialise in the latest pacing devices and minimally invasive treatments.

Catheter heart ablation

We use minimally invasive, catheter-based techniques for radiofrequency ablation (extreme heat) and cryoablation (extreme cold) to treat many heart rhythm disorders. Cardiologists create small areas of scar tissue on your heart, disrupting the abnormal electrical impulses that cause irregular heartbeats.

Ablation can reduce or eliminate arrhythmias without the need for major heart surgery. Our team specialises in catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia, which can reduce the frequency of ICD shocks and improve your quality of life.

Cleveland Clinic London is now equipped with Pulsed-Field Ablation (PFA), a minimally invasive technique to treat atrial fibrillation and an alternative to traditional thermal ablation methods. PFA uses targeted electric fields to ablate problematic heart tissue, disrupting the abnormal electrical pathways that cause AF. We are proud to be one of the few private hospitals in the UK to offer PFA.

We recommend this technique for patients who:

• Have symptomatic AF that has not responded well to medication.
• Are seeking a minimally invasive treatment option with potentially fewer extra-cardiac complications.

Leadless pacemaker implantation and management

Pacemakers are implanted devices that help control an abnormal heart rhythm. We may recommend a pacemaker if you have a slow heartbeat or atrial fibrillation. Our experts excel in leadless pacemaker implantation. Leadless pacemakers are about 90% smaller than traditional pacemakers and don’t have wires (leads).

We implant these self-contained devices directly in your heart with the aid of a catheter inserted into a vein in your groin. This minimally invasive approach means you won’t have an incision or scar on your chest. Leadless pacemakers aren’t visible under the skin, and they eliminate the potential complications associated with leads.

ICD implantation and management

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) monitors and corrects irregular heartbeats. It delivers an electrical shock to the heart when the heart’s rhythm becomes dangerous. An ICD can help prevent sudden cardiac death in people with ventricular arrhythmia or heart failure.

At Cleveland Clinic London, we specialise in subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) implantation. A traditional ICD has leads that go through veins directly into your heart. But an S-ICD has leads that go under your skin and don’t attach to your heart. It’s a less invasive procedure, and S-ICD leads are much easier to remove.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy

We may recommend cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) if you have heart failure. This treatment helps the bottom chambers of your heart (ventricles) pump blood more efficiently. Our cardiologists can implant a biventricular pacemaker for CRT, which regulates both ventricles of your heart. If you’re at high risk of sudden cardiac death, we may suggest a device that also has a built-in ICD.

Lead extraction

Lead extraction is surgery to remove the leads from a pacemaker or ICD. You may need lead extraction due to an infection, lead damage or lead dislodgement (moved out of place). It’s a highly complex procedure that carries significant risks. If you need lead extraction, it’s essential to select a specialist with extensive experience performing this procedure.

At Cleveland Clinic London, a team of heart surgeons and electrophysiologists works together to perform lead extraction. Our hybrid catheterisation lab uses the most sophisticated imaging and surgical equipment. If necessary, we can transfer patients directly to our dedicated cardiac surgery operating theatre or our 29-bed, level 3 intensive care unit (ICU).

Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Self-Pay Services

Whether you need a cardiac MRI scan, or want to know the cost of interventional cardiology, sports cardiology, surgical procedures or other services, we can help. Cleveland Clinic London has the most innovative tests and treatments available for self-pay, so you’re prepared for whatever turn your health takes. Find out more.

Learn More

Contact us or call +44 20 3423 7500 for more information including booking an appointment.

For specific information about our heart, vascular or thoracic services you can also email the HVTI access team [email protected].