Electrophysiology — treating electric circuitry disorders of the heart

The ‘go to’ specialist for the treatment of heart rhythm and other electric circuitry disorders is an electrophysiologist – a cardiologist who has sub-specialised in the complex ‘electrical’ system of the heart.

Imagine the heart is like a car engine which needs a fuel supply and an electrical system to enable it to run. The ‘fuel supply’ is the blood with oxygen and other important nutrients supplied to the heart muscle.

The electrophysiological functioning, or ‘electrical system’, of the heart is regulated through a complex system that starts with the sinus node, which is like the ’spark plug’ of the heart. The electrical charges generated spread through specialised conducting tissue, which is like the ‘electrical wiring’ of the heart. This makes it possible for the heart to pump in synchronisation.