Welcome

Welcome, and thank you for visiting the home on the web for Valley Regional Arrhythmia Center.  

Located in the heart of San Fernando Valley, VRAC is a medical group specializing in the area of Cardiac Electrophysiology.  Our practice is devoted to the management of arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeat. 

On this website, you may find information about our services, our physicians, and our office locations.  In addition, there is a special section on patient resources, which is dedicated entirely to the education of patients with arrhythmias. 

What is Cardiac Electrophysiology?

An arrhythmia is a disorder involving the electrical system of the heart.  Such disorder leads to heartbeats that are too fast, too slow, or just irregular and may result in symptoms of palpitation, fatigue, dizziness, fainting, racing heartbeat, and even sudden cardiac arrest.  These electrical problems of the heart are distinguished from those involving the arteries and muscles of the heart.

Cardiac Electrophysiology, simply stated, is the study of electrical impulses of the heart.  It is a sub-specialty of Cardiology dedicated exclusively to the management of arrhythmias.  A Cardiac Electrophysiologist is, therefore, a board certified Cardiologist with additional qualification and certification in the area of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, commonly referred to as "Electrophysiology."   To become a Cardiac Electrophysiologist, one must go through specialized training program and board certification.

The following example will illustrate the difference between a Cardiologist and an Electrophysiologist.  A Cardiologist specializes in opening up clotted arteries with procedures like angioplasty and coronary stents and a Cardiac Electrophysiologist focuses on fixing rhythm disorders with procedures like electrophysiology study and radiofrequency ablation.  While both are cardiologists, they deal with different areas of the heart.  The former is often referred to as the "plumber" and the latter the "electrician."  

While some patients with arrhythmias can be taken care of by their "plumber," many patients with irregular heartbeat may require specialized care by an "electrician," especially if they require procedures such as radiofrequency ablation which is performed only by a Cardiac Electrophysiologist.

The Development of the Field of Cardiac Electrophysiology

For the field of Cardiac Electrophysiology, the last two decades of the 20th century witnessed an explosive growth both in our understanding of the mechanisms of arrhythmias and in our ability to provide treatments that really make a difference.  Unraveling of the electrical circuits of atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation led to refinement in their treatment.  Minimally invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablation resulted in the complete cure and elimination of many arrhythmias which previously could only be managed by multiple potentially toxic drugs or by major open heart surgery.  Today, electrophysiology study and ablation are no longer considered esoteric procedures but are rapidly becoming the standard of care for many forms of arrhythmias.

In summary, rapid advancement in the management of arrhythmias in the past several decades has led to the creation of the sub-specialty of Cardiac Electrophysiology.  Physicians specializing in this field, or Cardiac Electrophysiologists, can help many patients with arrhythmias by providing specialized, curative procedures such as radiofrequency ablation.  Provision of such care, we believe, can best be accomplished in a sub-specialty environment dedicated exclusively to the management of arrhythmias, thus the launching of Valley Regional Arrhythmia Center.