Electrophysiology

Electrophysiology involves the study of your heart’s electrical pathways and activity. You may need to see an electrophysiologist—an expert in heart rhythm disorders—to determine the cause, locate the site origin or decide on the best treatment for an abnormal heart rhythm.

At St. Bernards Medical Center, we house an entire department dedicated to diagnosing and treating heart rhythm abnormalities. Lead by a team of electrophysiologists at Cardiology Associates of NEA, St. Bernards offers a full range of treatments and therapy for patients with rhythm disorders.

Conditions treated include:
  • Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter (A Fib)—abnormalities in the beating of the heart, but atrial fibrillation involves irregular, often rapid heartbeats and sometimes requires emergency treatment.
  • Ventricular tachycardia (VT)—fast but regular beating of the heart.
  • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)—heart beats very fast from time to time for reasons other than exercise, high fever or stress.
  • Bradycardia—slower than normal heart rate.
  • Syncope—brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain.
  • Premature beats (PVCs and PACs)—extra heartbeat caused by an abnormal electrical impulse starting in the lower chambers of the heart before a normal heartbeat would occur.
  • Genetic arrhythmia disorders—such as Long QT Syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Brugada Syndrome.
In addition to comprehensive evaluations and treatment of all heart rhythm disorders, the following services are offered:
  • Electrophysiology studies and ablation of complex arrhythmias utilizing state of the art technology, including treatment for atrial fibrillation using 3D mapping, atrial flutter, VT, SVT, atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW).
  • Electrophysiology studies and ablation of complex arrhythmias utilizing state of the art technology, including treatment for atrial fibrillation using 3D mapping, atrial flutter, VT, SVT, atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW).
  • Diagnostic testing with onsite access to:
    • Electrocardiography (ECG)
    • Event monitoring
    • Echocardiography
    • Stress testing
    • Cardiac CT
  • Implantation and follow-up of:
    • Pacemakers
    • Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs)
    • Biventricular ICD with pacing capabilities (CRT-D)
    • Implantable loop monitors
  • Cardioversion, a procedure used to restore normal heart rhythm, most often by sending electric shocks to the heart through electrodes placed on the chest.
  • Participation in clinical trials of novel therapies for rhythm disorders, such as ongoing clinical trials for sudden cardiac death and wearable defibrillators.
Electrophysiologists F. Roosevelt Gilliam, M.D.
  • Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
  • Residency: Duke University Medical Center
Devi G. Nair, M.D.
  • Medical School: Government Medical College Trivandrum, University of Kerala
  • Residency: St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NYC and Heart & Vascular Research Center MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH