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Heart rhythm disorders are a leading cause of death and illness in the United States. Symptoms of a heart rhythm disorder can be quite diverse, ranging from palpitations (racing heart sensation), near syncope or syncope (fainting), fatigue, shortness of breath, heart failure and cardiac arrest leading to sudden death. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder and one of the most common causes of hospital admissions, while ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart disease, such as prior heart attack, are the most common cause of sudden death in the United States.

Cardiac electrophysiology, a specialty that focuses on diagnosing various cardiac arrhythmias, allows for precise identification of rhythm problems, which can lead to appropriate therapy. Aided by sophisticated technology, many of these rhythm disorders can be completely cured and premature sudden death virtually eliminated in many high-risk patients.

Starting in 1977 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care’s cardiac electrophysiology department, which is part of Aurora Cardiovascular Services, was one of the first programs in the United States to treat patients with heart rhythm disorders. The electrophysiology program is involved in treating some of the most complex heart rhythm disorders using leading-edge technologies, some of which have been created at our center. Some of the most innovative treatment techniques have come out of this program.

It was one of the first programs to treat patients with ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, first surgically and then using catheter-based techniques. We implanted the first atrial defibrillator in the United States and the first ventricular defibrillator in Southeast Asia to prevent sudden death. The first epicardial AF ablation in the United States and the first catheter ablation for AF in Wisconsin were performed by our physicians.

The electrophysiology program at Aurora is one of the busiest programs in the country. We train physicians and treat patients from around the country and overseas. Our program offers internationally acclaimed educational seminars for physicians from around the country. The mission of our program is to provide state-of-the-art and comprehensive care for patients suffering from heart rhythm disorders.