All cardiologists are not the same. If you have a heart rhythm condition, it may be helpful to see a heart rhythm specialist like Dr Luther.
Dr Luther sees patients especially with:
- palpitations, irregular heartbeats, heart racing, missing a beat.
- dizziness
- blackouts
- breathlessness
- fatigue, and other symptoms secondary to abnormal heart rhythms
- No symptoms, but a concerning heart rhythm diagnosis.
Heart Rhythm Problems that Dr Luther has expertise:
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia
- Wolf Parkinson White
- Ventricular Ectopy and Ventricular Tachycardia
- Bradycardia and Heart block
Dr Luther organises and interprets specialised tests to diagnose heart rhythm problems:
- ECG
- Exercise ECG
- Between 24-hour to 2-week rhythm monitor
- 24hr Blood pressure monitor
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- Cardiac MRI
- Cardiac CT
- Implantable loop recorder
Dr Luther can prescribe medications to help control heart rhythm problems or perform an electrical cardioversion.
Dr Luther is one of few Cardiologists with expertise in performing potentially curative heart procedures.
- Catheter ablation
- Pacemaker/cardiac resynchronisation therapy/defibrillator implantation
Section 1: Dr Luther’s “Video Diagrams”
I prefer using a diagram to simplify discussions with my patient and ensure their understanding. Most consultations have moved to remote-telephone based due to the pandemic, precluding the opportunity for face-face drawings. In the following 4 video recordings, I use a diagram to explain what happens during an ablation procedure for 4 common conditions.
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
(Comment – Minute 2:30-2:55: This does not include your “blood thinner” (anticoagulant) medication, which for many patients is continued lifelong, whether or not the AF ablation is successful.)
EP study/SVT ablation
Atrial Flutter Ablation
Ventricular Ectopy Ablation
These videos are intended for the sole use of patients who are undergoing their ablation procedure at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and or under the care of Dr Luther. Practice between centres and operators may vary.
Section 2: A patient journey through the EP Lab
My colleague (Dr Boon Lim at Imperial Healthcare) and I filmed a patient journey and commentary through an Electrophysiological study & SVT ablation procedure. I hope this offers a helpful visual of what you might expect on the day.
Section 3: “AF Association” national Patient Day presentations
In this video, I am interviewed by a patient at the 2019 AF association national patient day, part of the Heart Rhythm Congress UK, and we discuss “Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation and the Patient Experience”. This was recorded on behalf of touchCARDIO.
In this video, I discuss the “Associated Conditions related to Atrial Fibrillation”. This was recorded as part of the “AF Association National Patient Day 2020, held virtually as part of the Heart Rhythm Congress 2020 patient day.
In this video, I discuss the interplay between “Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation”. This was recorded as part of the “Arrythmia Alliance/AF Association National Patient Day 2020, held virtually as part of the Heart Rhythm Congress 2020 patient day.
Section 4: Useful external resources carefully selected by Dr Luther
Whilst there is a lot of online material to help support your understanding before a procedure, knowing which one to review is not always straight forward. To help, I have selected some useful and high-quality external links that might benefit you.
Atrial Fibrillation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezTEc6GwLNs
VIDEO – Atrial Fibrillation illustration (BHF)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cxztSBueDk
VIDEO – Cryo-AF ablation – in the cath-lab (BHF)
Atrial Flutter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVl9tfYbvbQ
VIDEO – Atrial Flutter illustration (BHF)
SVT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNxQLxDnno0
VIDEO – Paroxysmal SVT (Aging Alliance)
Electrical Cardioversion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC7yVk4yklA
VIDEO – Cardioversion (BHF)
Permanent Pacemaker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHJT9eJXHLI
VIDEO – PPM/ICD implantation (BHF)
Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYmwQyX7UXQ
Living with an ICD (BHF)