Heart & Vascular

Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Service

(415) 353-2554

The UCSF Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Service is known worldwide for expert evaluation and treatment of patients with a variety of heart rhythm disorders. Cardiac electrophysiology – a subspecialty of cardiology that focuses on the heart's electrical activity – is a rapidly growing field on the forefront of efforts to find new treatments and cures for arrhythmias.

With a history of innovation, UCSF's electrophysiology service has played a leading role in the tremendous advances recently made in assessing and treating abnormal heart rhythms. In the 1980s, doctors at UCSF Medical Center pioneered the use of catheter ablation, a highly successful treatment to disrupt an abnormal electrical signal that is causing an arrhythmia. Today, we use this technique to resolve a variety of cardiac arrhythmias.

Our team of experienced electrophysiologists, nurses and technicians is devoted to the care of patients with abnormal heartbeats. We perform more than 900 procedures a year, including 400 catheter ablation procedures. This depth of experience creates the foundation for our efficiency and expertise.

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 Our service also maintains a vigorous research program. Working with the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and pharmaceutical or medical device companies, we carry out clinical trials – studies of experimental therapies that often lead to more effective treatments. Our patients who choose to participate in clinical trials can benefit from access to previously unknown therapies, devices or medications that may work better for them than the traditional options. In turn, our service's involvement in research and development enhances our ability to provide specialized and personalized care to our patients.
 

Doctor referral required

Our providers are available for patient appointments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place order. Appointment options for new and current patients include:

  • Video visits
  • In-person visits at UCSF locations for urgent cardiovascular symptoms, diagnostic evaluation and urgent lab work. If you are having an emergency, call 911.

The health, safety and well-being of our patients remains our top priority. Accordingly, UCSF has infection prevention practices and protocols in place at all of our facilities.

Our locations

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    Conditions we treat

    Treatments we specialize in

    Our team

    Decorative Caduceus

    Multiple Cardiac Sensors for the Management of Heart Failure

    Freedom from all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization comparing patients managed with HeartLogic alerts versus those not managed with alerts. An endpoint event for each subject will be determined by the first occurren...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Transseptal vs Retrograde Aortic Ventricular Entry to Reduce Systemic Emboli

    incidence of new cerebral embolic lesions measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) post-ablation as compared to pre-ablation imaging studies

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Prospective Assessment of Premature Ventricular Contractions Suppression in Cardiomyopathy(PAPS...

    Compare the overall improvement or change in LVEF between RFA and AAD groups.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    A Trial of High Power-Short Duration Versus Standard Power-Long Duration Radiofrequency Ablatio...

    RF ablation duration from start of first pulmonary vein isolation lesion to end of last lesion

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Individualized Studies of Triggers of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

    Atrial fibrillation quality of life will be measured by the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy of Life survey (AFEQT). The primary outcome will be change in AFEQT score from baseline to 10 weeks and will compare the N-of-1 arm ...

    Recruiting

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    Preparing for your appointment

    What to Bring

    • Photo I.D.
    • Health insurance card
    • Insurance authorization, if required
    • Doctor's referral, if required
    • Recent test results related to your condition
    • List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
    • List of questions you may have
    • Device or paper for taking notes

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