The heart’s electrical system generates and conducts impulses that coordinate the contraction of the cardiac chambers in the correct sequence and at the appropriate rate. When this system is disrupted, whether by degeneration of conduction tissue, structural cardiac disease, autonomic imbalance, or systemic illness, the result is a heart rhythm disorder, more formally known as cardiac arrhythmia.
Arrhythmias produce a wide spectrum of symptoms including palpitations, dizziness, pre-syncope, syncope, breathlessness, fatigue, and chest discomfort. In some patients, rhythm disturbances are entirely asymptomatic and identified incidentally. In others, symptoms are intermittent and unpredictable, making diagnosis challenging because the abnormality may not be present at the time of any given investigation.
This is a critical point in rhythm disease management. Symptoms alone are not a reliable guide to the nature or severity of the underlying electrical abnormality. Accurate diagnosis requires documented electrical correlation between the symptom and the rhythm, which in patients with infrequent episodes may require extended or implantable monitoring.
An abnormally slow heart rate causing fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, dizziness, or fainting. May arise from sinus node dysfunction, atrioventricular conduction block, or medication effects.
Sudden transient loss of consciousness caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain. Cardiac causes require electrocardiographic correlation to diagnose and include both bradycardic and tachycardic arrhythmias.
Disorders of the heart's specialised conduction tissue including sick sinus syndrome, bundle branch block, and atrioventricular nodal disease, typically presenting with bradycardic symptoms or reduced exercise capacity.
Patients with existing pacemakers or implantable loop recorders require specialist review of device functions, stored electrogram analysis, reprogramming, or assessment in the context of new symptoms.
A conduction disorder in which electrical signals are delayed or blocked within the heart's conduction system. Complete heart block is a serious condition requiring prompt pacemaker implantation.
The subjective awareness of the heartbeat as rapid, irregular, or forceful. Characterisation requires correlation between symptoms and a simultaneous electrocardiographic recording.
Recurrent unexplained dizziness, near-syncope, or collapse requires systematic exclusion of cardiac rhythm cause. Implantable loop recorder monitoring is the most reliable investigative strategy when standard monitoring has not captured the abnormality.
Continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic recording over 24 to 48 hours, used to detect arrhythmias that occur with daily activity but are absent at rest.
For patients whose symptoms occur less frequently, external monitoring devices providing recordings over days to weeks increase the probability of capturing arrhythmia during a symptomatic episode.
A miniaturised subcutaneous device providing up to three years of continuous ECG monitoring, ideal for infrequent syncope, unexplained palpitations, or suspected paroxysmal arrhythmias missed by standard monitoring. Over 30 loop recorders have been implanted at Level 3 independent competence.
Specialist review of stored electrograms, sensing and pacing thresholds, lead integrity, and device counters in patients with existing pacemakers or implantable loop recorders.
The foundational assessment tool in cardiac rhythm evaluation, identifying baseline conduction abnormalities, bundle branch block, atrioventricular block, pre-excitation, and prior myocardial infarction.
A minimally invasive procedure performed under local anaesthesia in which a pulse generator is implanted under the skin of the upper chest and connected to the heart via one or two leads. The pacemaker continuously monitors heart rate and delivers electrical stimulation when the intrinsic rate falls below the programmed minimum. Over 100 permanent pacemakers have been implanted at Level 3 independent competence.
Short-term transvenous pacing used in emergency situations including complete heart block complicating acute myocardial infarction, haemodynamically significant bradycardia, and as a bridge to permanent pacemaker implantation. Over 100 temporary pacing procedures have been performed at Level 3 independent competence.
A brief procedure under local anaesthetic in which the loop recorder is inserted through a small incision in the upper chest wall. The procedure takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes, and the patient is discharged the same day with remote monitoring established.
Ongoing clinical review and device interrogation to confirm appropriate sensing and pacing function, review battery status, assess lead integrity, and optimise programmed parameters for each patient's individual needs.
Specialist evaluation of cardiac rhythm disorders using advanced ECG monitoring and targeted electrophysiological assessment to diagnose and guide management of bradyarrhythmias, tachyarrhythmias, and unexplained syncope.
100+ Permanent Pacemaker Procedures
100+ Temporary Pacing Procedures
30+ Implantable Loop Recorders
Specialist Device Follow-Up