Referring Physicians: Rush Electrophysiology Care

Rush has a long-standing legacy of providing electrophysiology treatments to patients with complex arrhythmia issues and has remained one of the nation’s leaders in advanced arrhythmia care and tertiary referral centers. Our electrophysiology team consists of leaders and pioneers in their fields. They participate in and lead several national clinical trials that provide patients with access to many currently unavailable therapies, as well as technological advances not offered at most hospitals.

Our physicians have expertise in new treatments and were among the first in Illinois to perform ablation using the HeartLight Endoscopic Laser Ablation and Pulse Field Ablation systems. They are also among the most experienced in the nation in the use of conduction system pacing with a very high success rate. Another emerging therapy they’ve pioneered is the use of cardioneuroablation as an alternative to permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with vasovagal syncope and symptomatic bradycardia. Physicians from around the globe have come to train at Rush and learn how to perform these novel treatments.

Our EP team supports patients at every step of their care. The team includes a patient navigator who specializes in case creation and coordination and assists patients with scheduling. An EP registered nurse educates patients about their procedures, communicates test and lab results, reviews medications, manages referrals and provides clinic support. A clinic coordinator collects medical records for patients, assists with scheduling and reminds patients of upcoming appointments.

Following procedures, the team connects with patients’ primary cardiologists to ensure all their information is communicated and that care can continue. The majority of our patients who receive complex ablation procedures go home the same day.

Who Are Ideal Candidates for Treatment at Rush?

Rush electrophysiologists are adept at treating patients with even the most complex heart rhythm abnormalities, even those who have previously undergone failed ablation procedures or who have been turned down at other medical centers. Patients who require complex ablation procedures, including those with heart failure, will also find expert care here.

Why Refer Patients Here?

• High volumes, excellent outcomes: Rush has one of the highest volumes of cases in the region with a very high patient satisfaction rating. Despite having these volumes, Rush’s complication rates are among the lowest nationwide.
• Cutting-edge technology: We offer treatments and services that are often not available at other medical facilities. Examples include conduction system pacing; ventricular tachycardia ablation; cardioneuroablation; and pacemaker, defibrillator and lead extractions.
• Conduction system pacing: Our specialists have successfully implanted hundreds of His bundle and left bundle branch pacemakers since 2016 with an extremely high success rate. Rush was one of the early adopters of His bundle pacing in the United States. Our electrophysiologists are world leaders and provide patients with advanced treatment options for various heart conditions that require pacing. They have also published dozens of studies on His bundle and left bundle branch pacing.
• Ventricular tachycardia ablation: Ventricular tachycardia may lead to recurrent defibrillator shocks and even sudden cardiac death despite use of antiarrhythmic medications. Our center is a national leader for ablation of ventricular tachycardia and other ventricular arrhythmias. Our specialists have pioneered several technological advances that improve VT ablation outcomes and continue to sponsor and participate in clinical trials
• Cardioneuroablation: Vasovagal syncope, vagal-mediated bradycardia and heart block may cause frequent or severe symptoms even in patients without any other cardiac medical problems. Cardioneuroblation is a new therapy that is an alternative to pacemaker implantation for these conditions. It involves cardiac ablation of the ganglionated plexi and nerve fibers contributing to syncope and vagal-mediated bradycardia with high success. Rush is leading the CNA-FWRD registry, the first international multicenter study with cross-over design evaluating the efficacy of this procedure and the largest study yet.
• Rush Arrhythmia Center: Rush has one of the leading national centers for advanced clinical electrophysiology care, training and research. With decades of experience, our physicians are committed to bringing the most innovative procedures and technology to treating arrhythmia patients. They were some of the first in the Chicago to offer left atrial appendage closure with the Watchman FLX device and to use the HeartLight X3 ablation system and pulsed field ablation for Afib. They also offer the hybrid convergent ablation procedure for patients with advanced cases of atrial fibrillation
• Atrial Fibrillation Clinic: Our clinic electrophysiologists focus exclusively on managing and treating patients to help modify risk factors and slow down progression of AFib. They treat newly diagnosed, paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AFib.
• Among the nation’s best: Rush University Medical Center is on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll, which ranks our cardiology and heart and vascular surgery programs among the best in the country.
• A team approach: Our EP team provides patients with a uniquely supportive and convenient experience. The team coordinates care for patients from the first day of contact. Appointments are scheduled quickly, and patients are seen within one to two weeks.
• High volumes, excellent outcomes: Rush has one of the highest volumes of cases in the region with a very high patient satisfaction rating. Despite having these volumes, Rush’s complication rates are among the lowest nationwide. View our most recent outcomes report here.

What Is the Process for Referring a Patient?

To refer a patient, you can call (312) 942-5020, or you can visit our page on Referring and Transferring Patients to learn more and find our online provider referral form. You can also reach out to providers directly to schedule an appointment.

Our electrophysiologists treat patients with the goal of providing high-level service before making sure that they get back to seeing their primary cardiologist and physician if no further treatment is required. The EP team will follow up and ensure communication of all test and procedure results.

Conditions We Treat

• Arrhythmia
• Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Atrial flutter
• Atrial tachycardia
• Bradyarrhythmias
• Cardiomyopathy
• Congestive heart failure
• Sick sinus syndrome
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
• Syncope
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Ventricular tachycardia

Treatments and Tests Offered

• Cardiac ablation
• Cardiac catheterization
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy
• Cardioneuroablation
• Conduction system pacing
• Cryoablation
• Electrophysiology study
• His bundle pacing
• Holter monitor
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
• Laser balloon guided atrial fibrillation ablation
• Lead extraction
• Leadless pacemaker
• Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure (Watchman device)
• Left bundle branch pacing
• Loop recorders
• Pacemaker
• Pulsed field ablation (PFA)
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Subcutaneous ICD
• Ventricular tachycardia ablation
• Ventricular fibrillation ablation

Clinical Trials & Publications From Rush Electrophysiologists

• Left vs Left
• His-Bundle Corrective Pacing in Heart Failure (HIS-CRT)
• Rhythm Evaluation for AntiCoagulaTion with Continuous Monitoring of Atrial Fibrillation (REACT-AF)
• AAD Cross Over Study
• AIM-VT Trial
• SMILE-AF
• CNA-FWRD Prospective Registry
• Study of the Heartlight Endoscopic Ablation System for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
• Cardioneuroablation for the management of neurally mediated syncope, sinus bradycardia, and atrioventricular block
• Procedural and Intermediate-term Results of the Electroanatomical-guided Cardioneuroablation for the Treatment of Supra-Hisian Second- or Advanced-degree Atrioventricular Block: the PIRECNA multicentre registry
• Surpoint algorithm for improved guidance of ablation for ventricular tachycardia (SURFIRE-VT): A pilot study
• Transthoracic Echocardiographic Characteristics of Patients Who Underwent Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation
• Novel Transhepatic Percutaneous Approach for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Using a Watchman Device
• Wide area circumferential ablation for pulmonary vein isolation using radiofrequency versus laser balloon ablation
• Magnitude of increase in QTc interval after initiation of dofetilide in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation is associated with increased rates of pharmacological cardioversion and long-term freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation
• Comparison of electrocautery platforms for pulse generator replacement procedures
• Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation position predicts successful defibrillation in obese and non-obese patients