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Man running while wondering if he has an irregular heartbeat

Helping You Keep Your Heart In Rhythm

Your heart powers your every move, every day. That’s why we make treating your heart our primary focus, using some of the most advanced technology available to catch abnormalities as early as possible and prevent life-threatening conditions.

A Leader In Heart Rhythm Disorders

Icon | An Elite Team of Heart Experts

An Elite Team of Heart Experts

Our physicians are expertly trained and highly experienced in identifying and treating heart rhythm disorders. Count on our team to get your heart back in rhythm while keeping your whole health in mind.

Icon | Innovative Research and Technology Program

Innovative Research and Technology Program

Lowering risk to you is a top priority for us. That’s why we’re the first in Orlando to offer advanced procedures like ablation therapy using 3D mapping, a new technology that allows us to perform complex surgeries without radiation.

Icon | Pioneer of Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Pioneer of Minimally Invasive Surgeries

We’re leading the way in treatments for arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. At AdventHealth, we’re the first hospital in Central Florida to offer convergent hybrid ablation, a minimally invasive option for patients with persistent AFib.

Personalized Care To Regain Your Rhythm

AFib Types

A heart rhythm disorder, AFib is the most common type of arrhythmia. It occurs when your heart’s electrical charges malfunction, causing its upper chambers to beat out of sync with its lower chambers.

A few different types of AFib exist:

  • Paroxysmal AFib: short episodes of AFib where the irregular heartbeat resolves on its own within seven days of starting
  • Persistent AFib: AFib that lasts longer than seven days, does not resolve on its own and requires treatment to heal
  • Longstanding AFib: AFib that lasts longer than one year and needs treatment to heal
  • Permanent AFib: AFib that continues indefinitely without treatment
  • Nonvalvular AFib: AFib that’s unrelated to heart valve problems

Regardless of the type, AFib deserves treatment. When your heart beats improperly, it can disrupt your blood flow and increase your risk of stroke, so it’s important to understand what’s causing an irregular heartbeat. Our electrophysiologists will help get you answers and treatment.

Learn more about AFib in our Heart Rhythm Disorders Downloadable Guide.

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AFib Medications

Medications

In some cases of atrial fibrillation, medical therapy is the best option. A heart specialist will help you choose the right treatment for you.

Medications used to treat heart rhythm disorders include:

  • Antiarrhythmic medications used to maintain normal heart rhythm or convert the heart rhythm to normal
  • Anticoagulants to thin blood and prevent blood clots
  • Beta blockers to slow the heart rate
  • Calcium channel blockers to slow the heart rate
  • Digoxin to slow the heart rate

Our specialists will help you understand your medication and any potential side effects as part of your tailored treatment plan. Learn more about different medication-based AFib treatment options in our Heart Rhythm Disorders Downloadable Guide.

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AFib Procedures and Surgeries

Procedures: Cardiac Ablation and Pacemaker Placement

Cardiac Ablation

When AFib isn’t treatable with medical therapy, ablation is a nonsurgical, wire-based procedure that uses energy to eliminate the cardiac tissue that’s triggering AFib. Cardiac ablation uses radiofrequency or a laser to destroy the abnormal cells so your heart will beat normally. There are several types of ablation techniques, including a new technology called stereotaxis robotic ablation therapy, which is less invasive and uses softer, gentler catheters to resolve your atrial fibrillation.

Medtronic Micra™ Pacemaker

The Medtronic Micra™ Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) is a tiny, leadless pacemaker that’s less invasive than traditional implants, leaving you free of chest scars and potential medical complications. Unlike most pacemakers, Micra is leadless and implanted directly into the heart — all in one minimally invasive procedure with no chest incision needed. Because Micra is self-contained within the heart, it eliminates possible medical complications arising from a chest incision and from the wires with conventional pacemakers.

Minimally Invasive Surgery: Convergent Hybrid AFib Ablation

Convergent hybrid ablation is an innovative and minimally invasive surgery to treat AFib. In the first part of this two-part procedure, a surgeon will perform a surgical ablation and place an AtriClip device in the heart to close the left atrial appendage, lowering the risk of stroke. The second part of the procedure happens one to two months later, when an electrophysiologist performs a catheter ablation to reinforce the scar tissue created in the previous surgical ablation. The convergent hybrid ablation procedure is a proven and effective option for people who live with persistent AFib that hasn’t improved with medications or other treatments.

Open-Heart Surgery: Maze Procedure

Designed to disrupt the erratic impulse triggers and circuits that cause AFib, Maze procedures create carefully placed scar tissue lesions within the atria to stop faulty electrical impulses from traveling. This creates only one path the electrical impulse can take, which prevents the atrium from fibrillating. The variations of the Maze procedure range from most to least invasive: the Cox-Maze procedure, Modified-Maze procedure and Mini-Maze procedure. Learn more about different procedures and surgeries in our Heart Rhythm Disorders Downloadable Guide.

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AFib Technology

Technology

Our team of skilled electrophysiologists sends electrical signals through a catheter placed in your heart so they can identify any rhythm abnormalities and diagnose your condition. Some of your symptoms may be best treated with a pacemaker or defibrillator. These small devices are implanted into your chest or abdomen to help your heart beat at a normal rhythm.

WATCHMAN™

WATCHMAN provides an alternative to the blood thinner Warfarin for people who need one. This is the only FDA-approved implant proven to reduce stroke risk in people with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem (also referred to as non-valvular AFib). WATCHMAN effectively reduces the risk of stroke without the risk of bleeding that can come with the long-term use of Warfarin.

Stereotaxis

Stereotaxis is the global leader in innovative robotic-assisted technologies designed to enhance the treatment of arrhythmias and perform endovascular procedures.

The Stereotaxis Niobe® Robotic Magnetic Navigation System consists of two robotically controlled magnets next to the operating table. During a procedure, your physician uses an intuitive computer interface to adjust the magnetic field around you. This allows them to precisely direct and steer a catheter that has a magnet embedded in its tip.

Pacemakers Versus Defibrillators

Pacemakers are typically recommended if you have a slow heartbeat (bradycardia). These devices send electrical impulses to the heart to tell it when to beat. Defibrillators monitor your heart rate and are usually used if your heart beats too fast (tachycardia). The devices have a capacitor that sends a powerful shock to the heart to restore proper rhythm.

Learn more about different technology in our Heart Rhythm Disorders Downloadable Guide. 

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Our Cardiac Care Physicians Put You First

Mahmoud Altawil, MD
Cardiologist, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist
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Dr. Shravan Ambati, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Dr. Chandra Bomma, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Cesar Bonilla, MD, FACC
Cardiology, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
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Miguel Bryce, MD, FACC
Electrophysiologist
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Jorge Diaz, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Dr. Patricia Guerrero, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Marcos Hazday, MD, FACC
Director of HCM Center of Excellence
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Vatsal Inamdar, MD
Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist
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Marc Iskandar, DO
Cardiac Electrophysiologist
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Dr. Sunil Kumar, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Florentino Lupercio Lopez, MD, FACC, FHRS
Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist
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Patrick T Mangonon, MD
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon
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Dr. Sambit Mondal, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Dr. George Monir, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Dr. Milind Parikh, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Scott J Pollak, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Hanscy Seide, MD
Electrophysicist
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Dr. Naushad A. Shaik, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Dr. Giancarlo Speziani, MD
Electrophysiologist
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Dr. Usman Siddiqui, MD
Electrophysiologist
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David Spurlock, MD
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon
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Huijian James Wang, MD, FACC, FHRS
Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist
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Meet Your Team
Woman at a Florida Hospital Cardiovascular Institute doing her heart arrhythmia treatment exercise

Rehab and Well-Being: How To Stay Strong

Adjusting to new medicine and everyday life after a heart procedure can feel overwhelming. But you’ve got this. Together, our team is here to help restore you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We’ll keep you informed of best care practices, provide you with lifestyle tips, and guide you through our wellness program. We’re here for you the whole way.

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Suzanne Hill

A Life Saved. A Life Restored.

“Dr. Monir, MD worked very closely with me...and [he] realized I needed to do something different.”

- Suzanne Hill

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Our Locations. Your Options.

As integral pieces of the largest heart, lung and vascular institute in Florida, every one of our Central Florida locations contributes to the strength of the AdventHealth Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute network. Explore your options with the guidance of our dedicated team. We’ll help you find the right fit, so you’re in the best setting to get the care you need.

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Couple holding hands after learning about afib prevention methods

Support With Every Beat

A strong community encourages a strong heart. From connecting you with others through our cardiac support groups to helping you navigate our financial assistance tools, we’re here to give you the guidance you need to feel whole.

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Prevention Starts With You

Atrial fibrillation affects an estimated three million Americans each year. But you can lower your risk. Learn the signs, symptoms, and preventative tips to take charge of your heart health.

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