At Morton Plant Mease, we offer the industry’s most advanced electrophysiology (EP) procedures to correct heart problems that can cause sudden death or severe physical impairment. Just five years ago, many of our patients would have endured shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, irregular heart beats and other debilitating conditions. Today these same patients can live longer, happier lives, thanks to the specialized care and treatment offered at our new Morgan Heart Hospital.

Patients benefit not only from our innovative procedures, but also from our expanded capacity. Since the Morgan Heart Hospital contains multiple electrophysiology laboratories, patients can be scheduled quickly and do not have to wait weeks for treatments to be performed.

After the procedure, our patients at Morgan Heart Hospital recover in private rooms that offer comfort as well as high-tech equipment. If a patient needs immediate surgery, we offer one of the area’s newest and best equipped facilities, as well as a dedicated staff of electrophysiologists, cardiologists, nurses and other specialists.           

Our patients can feel secure, knowing that our staff members have the highest levels of certification available and are trained in advanced cardiac life support.  And if a patient experiences a life-threatening emergency while undergoing a procedure—an extremely rare occurrence—we are equipped to take immediate action.

Our EP labs perform testing and following corrective procedures:

• Catheter Ablation – This procedure removes abnormal circuits or tissues that are causing abnormal heart rhythms.
• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) – A pacemaker or defibrillator is inserted to synchronize the heartbeat and help the heart to work more efficiently.
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) – A small electronic device is implanted under the skin to continuously monitor a person’s heart rhythm. This device can send a small electric shock to the heart to convert an abnormal, and possibly life threatening, heart rhythm back to normal.

What is electrophysiology (EP)?

The human heart has three main components: the “pump” which is the main muscular mass of the heart, the “plumbing” which is the sum of all the arteries through which the blood flows and the “electrical system” that generates and regulates its rhythm. Electrophysiology is the branch of cardiology that deals with problems related to the electrical system of the heart. 

Symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm include:

• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Fainting or black-outs
• Fluttering in the chest or palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain, pressure or discomfort

How is an electrophysiology study done?

The EP Lab is similar to the laboratory used for heart catheterization. During the procedure, the patient is given medications to induce sleep. Special hollow tubes, called catheters, are placed in strategic areas of the heart. These catheters record electrical activity inside the heart and allow an electrophysiologist to artificially “pace” the heart. An X-ray machine allows the physician to monitor the catheters to see that they are properly placed. 

Following the study, the findings and recommendations will be explained to the patient and family members. If an ablation is necessary, a special catheter is used to apply thermal heat to burn and eliminate the precise location in the heart that the arrhythmia originates from. During any electrophysiology procedure, the patient is carefully monitored by a highly trained team of doctors and nurses.

Electrophysiology procedures are provided at the following Morton Plant Mease facilities. 

Morgan Heart Hospital at Morton Plant
300 Pinellas Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
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If you are experiencing symptoms of heart disease, please contact your physician or cardiologist so that you can be tested and receive immediate treatment. If you are interested in making an appointment with one of our physicians, please click here or call the BayCare Contact Center at (727) 462-7500.