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Chicago, IL 60612

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About Rush Arrhythmia Center

If you have an arrhythmia and your heart beats irregularly — too slowly or too rapidly — it can lead to significant problems, such as stroke, heart failure or sudden death.

As part of a leading academic health system, the expert team at the Rush Arrhythmia Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago specializes caring for irregular heart rhythms.

We take a personalized approach to care, working closely with you to develop a treatment plan that will give you the best possible results. We offer a full spectrum innovative treatments for arrhythmias — from medications to ablation to cardiac implantable devices, such as conduction system pacing (His bundle and left bundle branch pacing), among others.

The Rush Arrhythmia Center team is focused on gaining a better understanding of cardiac arrhythmias and reducing the risk of arrhythmia and its related symptoms for our patients.

  • Patient-centered care: We will evaluate your individual symptoms and needs, and work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and goals.
  • Second opinion services: A second opinion can help you make more informed decisions about your health. Our team of experts will consult with you and provide a personalized approach to treat your arrhythmia.
  • Innovative treatments: We specialize in a range of innovative treatments and technology — including our His bundle pacing program. Our team has among the most experience in the nation with His bundle pacing, and our 95% success rate is higher than the success rate nationally. Learn more about His bundle pacing at Rush.
  • Advanced clinical trials: The center offers you access to advanced diagnostics and therapies through a variety of clinical trials. Learn more about our clinical trials at Rush.
  • Expertise in atrial fibrillation: The center includes a specialized atrial fibrillation clinic dedicated to treating the most common type of arrhythmia. Our providers in this clinic are experts in treating atrial fibrillation, or AFib, and offer all of the latest treatments to help manage your symptoms.

Rush University Medical Center Ranked Among the Best in the U.S.

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Conditions Treated

We treat the following specific conditions:

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular, often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow and is associated with an increased risk of stroke.

Atrial flutter

Atrial flutter is a condition in which the heart's upper chambers (atria) beat too quickly.

Inherited cardiac arrhythmia and channelopathies

Inherited cardiac arrhythmia and channelopathies are caused by mutations in gene coding that affect proteins that regulate the electrical function of the heart. If diagnosed early, our team will provide preventive measures that can help you and family manage this diagnosis.

Ventricular arrhythmia

Ventricular arrhythmia is a condition in which the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) beat very quickly.

Premature ventricular contractions

Premature ventricular contractions are benign, in most cases, but if bothersome or frequent, our team offers an ablation procedure to target the abnormal signals that cause this issue, which can help reduce your associated symptoms.

Sports cardiology

Sports cardiology is an evolving field that includes the care of athletes and active individuals with cardiovascular conditions, such as arrhythmias. Our sports cardiology program includes physicians with specific knowledge in the field who provide recommendations for athletes, allowing them to make informed decisions to safely and effectively participate in their sport.

Supraventricular arrhythmia

Supraventricular arrhythmia is a rapid heartbeat that develops in the upper chambers of your heart when the normal electrical impulses of your heart are disrupted.

Clinical Trials

As part of a leading academic health system, the center offers you access to advanced diagnostics and therapies through a variety of clinical trials. Learn more about our clinical trials at Rush.

Innovative Arrhythmia Treatment Options

We offer the following techniques and treatments:

Cardiac implantable devices

Cardiac implantable devices: Cardiac implantable devices are designed to help control or monitor irregular heartbeats if you experience certain heart rhythm disorders and heart failure. Rush offers the following types of implantable devices and associated procedures:

  • Pacemakers are implanted to regulate a slow heart rate. Our team has experience in implanting pacemaker leads through the veins and with leadless pacing systems.
    • Conduction system pacing (His bundle and left bundle branch pacing) is a method for using your own electrical system to create a more uniform heartbeat. This pacing technique reduces the incidence of heart failure and atrial fibrillation has shown to reduce the incidence of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Our team is a leader in the Chicago area and is among the most experienced in the nation with innovative His bundle and left bundle branch pacing techniques.
    • Cardiac resynchronization therapy involves inserting a pacing system that delivers small electrical impulses to the left and right ventricles of your heart to help them contract at the same time. This will help your heart pump more efficiently and will help reduce heart failure symptoms.
  • Cardiac defibrillators are implanted to prevent life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, specifically ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, which are often associated with sudden cardiac death. The device delivers an electric shock that helps restore a normal rhythm.
  • Lead extraction is necessary if any part of your device becomes infected or if one of your heart valves becomes infected. Our cardiology and infectious disease specialists will help determine if it is the right treatment for you.
Catheter-based ablation

Catheter-based ablation is a minimally invasive our team procedure where advances a flexible thin tube, or catheter, through the blood vessels to your heart to stop abnormal electrical pathways in your heart tissue that cause your arrhythmias. They perform several other types of ablations including:

  • Atrial fibrillation ablation uses radiofrequency (heating cells), cryo balloon (cooling cells) or laser balloon strategies achieve the best long-term results and control of atrial fibrillation burden.
  • Ventricular tachycardia ablation uses heat (radiofrequency) energy to create tiny scars in your heart to prevent abnormal signals that cause a rapid, erratic heartbeat.
Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO)

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a one-time procedure to seal the left atrial appendage. Our team offers this procedure to reduce the risk of blood clots that can lead to stroke and eliminate the need to take blood-thinning medication, if you have non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Stellate ganglion block

Stellate ganglion block is a minor procedure used to treat hard-to-manage, or intractable, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

Our Team of Providers

  • Caitlin Boyak, NP, DNP
    Rush Employed Provider

    Caitlin Boyak, NP, DNP

    Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

    Locations

    • Chicago, IL
    View Profile
  • Erica Engelstein, MD
    Rush Employed Provider

    Erica Engelstein, MD

    Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease

    Locations

    • Oak Park, IL
    • Chicago, IL
    Make an Appointment
  • Henry Huang, MD
    Rush Employed Provider

    Henry Huang, MD

    Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease

    Locations

    • Chicago, IL
    • Munster, IN
    Make an Appointment
  • Timothy Larsen, DO
    Rush Employed Provider

    Timothy Larsen, DO

    Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease

    Locations

    • Chicago, IL
    • Oak Park, IL
    Make an Appointment
  • Parikshit Sharma, MD, MPH
    Rush Employed Provider

    Parik S. Sharma, MD, MPH

    Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease

    Locations

    • Chicago, IL
    • Oak Brook, IL
    Make an Appointment
  • Hear From Our Providers

    One of the biggest things that helps put patients at ease is really talking to them. Once you spend enough time with them, and explain the nature of their condition to them and the options they have for managing their condition, they often feel more at ease.”

    – Parikshit Sharma, MD, MPH, cardiac electrophysiologist.