Mesa (480) 632-1577 | Gold Canyon (480) 543-1525 | Chandler (480) 895-0784 info@santancv.com
At San Tan Cardiovascular Centers we treat and manage cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Our cardiologist and nurse practitioners are skilled in the management of arrhythmias and device management.
We have Pacemaker, Loop Recorder and Defibrillator Clinics where we not only implant these devices in our patients, but monitor, check and follow up the device function. Patients come to our offices for routine check-ups and readings of their device.
We partner with Abbott (St. Jude), Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Biotronik and other major companies in providing implants of devices as clinically indicated.
We offer remote monitoring of these devices that allow us to talk the devices from a long distance in a timely and scheduled manner. Additionally, we get alerts from these devices if anything abnormal happens with a patients’ rhythm.
This greatly improves patients’ convenience and compliance to their healthcare.
To assist our patients who are on long term Anticoagulation medications, we offer regularly scheduled Anticoagulation Clinics.
These types of medications are administered to patients with blood clots, have a tendency to form blood clots or need to avoid blood clots (particularly patients with A-Fib). They work by acting on the bloods own tendencies to form clots by blocking mechanisms in the blood called thrombin, fibrin, etc.
These medications have to be taken under continuous monitoring and periodic blood testing to ensure that the proper “thinness” of the patients’ blood is achieved by the proper dosage.
These medications are distinctly different than what we call “Antiplatelet”drugs.
Antiplatelet drugs are usually prescribed to patients that have received a stent in their heart arteries. These medications act on blood cells that participate in the formation of blood clots. We like to say that it makes the blood “slick” – not thin.
Antiplatelet drugs don’t typically require rigorous blood test monitoring.
We help our patients treat and manage cardiac rhythm abnormalities and provide device implant and management for:
Q: What is an Arrhythmia?
A: Arrhythmia is a type of heart disorder that causes irregular heartbeats. This is also called cardiac dysrhythmia. They occur when the electrical signals that coordinate heartbeats do not function correctly. Cardiac dysrhythmia are broken down into four types:
Often times arrhythmias are harmless; but, abnormal arrhythmias can be dangerous. They can cause a weakened or damaged heart and may lead to life threatening symptoms.
Q: What are the symptoms of Arrhythmia?
A: Symptoms of Arrhythmia include:
Q: What are the causes/risk factors for Arrhythmia?
A: Causes/risk factors for Arrhythmia include:
Q: What kind of drugs are classified as being Anticoagulants?
A: Coumadin, Warfarin or Jantoven are drugs commonly used to “thin” the blood and prevent blood clots. These are called vitamin K antagonists.
Blood clots can cause various medical issues; but, strokes are the most feared conditions that can arise from blood clots. These medications are taken under continuous monitoring and periodic blood testing.
The newer types of anticoagulants called NOACs (Novel Oral Anticoagulants) are now extensively used in patients with blood clotting problems. These include Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis, and Savaysa. These are safe and effective drugs which don’t require blood tests.
Q: What is involved in the follow up care while taking Anticoagulants?
A: Your doctor will order regular blood tests (usually 4-6 weeks) to find out the level of the “thinness“ of the blood. Adjustment of the medication dosage may have to be made based on the results of the blood test.