Research

Clinical Research

The Electrophysiology Service has and continues to be actively involved in several clinical research studies. Some selected studies are listed:

1. MADIT 2 and 3 (the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial)
2. CASIS (syncope in nonischemic cardiomyopathy ICD trial)
3. InSync III Marquis, RHYTHM ICD, COMPANION (bi-ventricular pacing)

Studies that are also to be initiated shortly include:

1. A prospective ICD lead registry
2. Physiologic effects of cardiac resynchronization during exercise in heart failure patients
3. Invasive studies of human atrial physiology along with responses to pharmacologic agents

Equipment

1. Two Prucka Engineering 128 channel Electrophysiology Laboratory recording systems
2. One Prucka Engineering 128 channel intraoperative mapping system Intravascular/intra-cardiac ultrasound
3. Carto/Biosense mapping system
4. Ventritex HVS-02 External defibrillators
5. Monophasic Action Potential catheter mapping system

Support

Support staff include six RN’s, three Electrophysiology technicians, three nurse practitioners, a research nurse and two secretaries.

Basic Research

The general basic research interests of the Electrophysiology Lab include:

1. Cardiac mapping,
2. Defibrillation
3. Effects of drugs on defibrillation
4. Monophasic action potential recording