Procedures and treatments

From first consultation through to diagnosis, treatment and onward care, Dr Lowe will work alongside you to deliver a fully personalised plan you’re completely happy with.

Below you’ll find answers to some of our patients’ most frequently asked questions about the treatments and procedures he offers.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please don’t worry. Just get in touch and we’ll do whatever we can to help.

 

Catheter ablation

Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure to manage irregular heart rhythm. Used to treat atrial fibrillation and other cardiac conditions, it works by carefully interrupting abnormal electrical signals in the heart either with heat or by freezing.

As well as atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation can be used to treat supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), atrial flutter and ventricular arrhythmias. The most common ablation technique is to use radiofrequency to interrupt the abnormal heart signals. The catheter, a thin, floppy wire, is fed into the femoral vein which runs from the leg to the heart. The catheter records electrical activity and once the source of abnormality is located, radiofrequency energy is delivered through the catheter to treat the area.

The procedure typically takes between one and two hours. It’s usually performed under sedation but can be performed under a general anaesthetic if required.

The other technique is known as cryoballoon ablation. A balloon is passed through the femoral vein into the top left chamber of the heart. The balloon is inflated, and freezing is used to treat the area and prevent abnormal signals entering the heart.

 

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Cardioversion

Put simply, cardioversion works to restore an abnormal heart rhythm to a normal pattern and alleviate any associated symptoms.

It aims to correct an arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm by sending electric signals to your heart through electrodes attached to your chest, and is often recommended for treating heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

An electric cardioversion is usually a day-case procedure with the patient either under heavy sedation or a short-acting general anaesthetic.

You’ll have electrodes attached to your chest and then connected to a defibrillator, after which you’ll be given one or more controlled electric shocks and your heart rate is monitored. Some patients may need to stay overnight where they will be further monitored.

For an internal cardioversion, you’ll be given a local anaesthetic to numb your groin and then Dr Martin Lowe will insert a catheter into the vein at the top of your leg to allow a fine wire to be threaded into your heart. This wire is then connected to the defibrillator machine to deliver an internal shock.

A chemical or pharmacologic cardioversion uses anti-arrhythmic medication to restore a normal heart rhythm and is often used as a follow-on treatment to electrical cardioversion.

 

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ICD implantation

A cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is an implantable device that can help treat irregular heart rhythms and greatly improve quality of life.

As opposed to a pacemaker, which continually stimulates the heart to beat at a normal rate, an ICD monitors your heart rhythm and, it if detects an abnormality, delivers a shock to reset the heart.

An ICD is implanted in a similar way to a pacemaker, typically as a day case procedure, either with local anaesthetic and sedation, or under a general anaesthetic, depending on where the ICD is being implanted.

The device is attached to one or two leads that pass through the vein in your chest to your heart. One lead goes into the ventricle or lower chamber of the heart and, if required, one goes into the top chamber of the heart, known as the atrium.

The leads that connect the ICD to the heart are usually thicker, as they contain coils to deliver a shock as well as the components required to check the pace of the heart. The battery or generator that powers the ICD is also usually larger than a pacemaker and is therefore often placed below the chest muscles rather than just below the skin.

The patient will have check-ups every six months to a year, although it's also possible to monitor an ICD wirelessly, transmitting information on how the heart is functioning.

 

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Pacemaker implantation

A pacemaker is a device that’s been in use since the 1950s to ensure the heart beats at a normal rate.

It’s a small box inserted under the skin, usually in the left side of the chest. Leads are then inserted, through the veins, into the bottom chamber of the heart, known as the ventricle. A second lead is often put into the atrium, or top chamber, of the heart.

A small electric impulse is generated and transmitted into your heart, stimulating a contraction of the heart muscles that produces our heartbeat.

Pacemakers are typically implanted in patients who have a slow heartbeat – a condition known as bradycardia. It can help to alleviate symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, poor balance and fainting or blackouts, that are having a profound impact on quality of life.

Often, getting older can lead to a progressive slowing of the heartbeat, but bradycardia can also be a sign of more serious cardiac conditions, such as heart failure, premature conduction tissue disease and cardiomyopathy.

 

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Book an appointment

To book an appointment with Dr Lowe, you can call, email, or use our contact form:

T:+44 (0)20 3860 0110

EDrMartinLowePA@hcahealthcare.co.uk

 

Dr Lowe sees patients at:

The Harley Street Clinic

88 Harley Street

London W1G 7HR

 

The Portland Hospital,

84 Harley Street,

London W1G 7HW

 

Appointment times

Wednesdays: 2-6pm (last appointment 5.15pm)

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