The Inova Children’s Heart Center electrophysiology program offers a full complement of diagnostic and treatment options for children with known or suspected heart rhythm problems. As the largest outpatient program in Northern Virginia, we perform more than 15,000 electrocardiograms and administer 1,000 ambulatory monitors annually.

Comprehensive services include:

• Fetal arrhythmia monitoring. Our electrophysiology clinicians work with Inova’s obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, cardiologists, and neonatologists to monitor fetuses with suspected arrhythmias. In collaboration with Inova Heart and Vascular Institute’s genomics clinic, we can now detect hereditary arrhythmias, such as Long QT syndrome, in utero and provide timely treatment.
  
  
• Pacemakers/defibrillators. We monitor patients with pacemakers and defibrillators via in-office checks and convenient home-based monitoring. Transvenous pacemakers and defibrillators are implanted in our new cardiac catheterization lab and children recover overnight in our cardiac intensive care step-down unit.
  
  
• Ablation. We use the latest technology, including radiofrequency energy, cryoablation and irrigated radiofrequency, to treat supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. All ablations are performed in our newly renovated biplane electrophysiology lab. 3D mapping helps us locate arrhythmias with minimal fluoroscopy exposure. In addition, advanced automation, impedance field flexibility, and magnetic field precision significantly shorten procedure time. In 2017, we had a 95% success rate for children with WPW and all forms of supraventricular arrhythmias. Many children who previously required anti-arrhythmic medication and had activity restrictions can now safely participate in unrestricted activities without any medication.
  
  
• Genetic Heart Disease. Inova Children’s Heart Center is in a unique position to evaluate and treat families with genetic heart disease. Our multidisciplinary team of adult and pediatric cardiologists and dedicated pediatric genetic counselors currently follows children, parents, siblings and extended family with inherited life-threatening and rare arrhythmias as well as cardiomyopathies. We work with researchers at Inova Translational Medicine Institute to identify and tailor the best treatment options for these patients and their entire family. This joint program between the pediatric and adult heart centers at Inova provides care across generations of families.
  
  
• Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Program. We promote community awareness to identify children at risk of sudden life-threatening events. In April 2018, we hosted our first symposium to educate pediatricians, family practitioners and other providers on risk factors and early warning signs for sudden cardiac death. In addition, we are working to establish mandatory CPR training for all high school students in Northern Virginia.