The Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship program at Wake Forest School of Medicine provides training for fellows interested in expanding their knowledge and expertise within the field.
Below is a list of the labs and clinics fellows will be exposed to and the learning objectives of each lab/clinic.
Electrophysiology Lab
- Learn indications for invasive electrophysiologic testing
- Learn techniques of catheter placement and manipulation
- Learn techniques of intra-cardiac recording
- Learn techniques of programmed intra-cardiac stimulation as a method of arrhythmia induction and termination and to assess mechanisms of arrhythmias (resetting and entrainment)
- Learn strategies to map abnormal rhythms
- Learn methods of catheter ablation for treatment of rhythm disturbances
- Learn methods of tilt table testing for evaluation of syncope or orthostatic intolerance
- Learn methods of external cardioversion using direct current shocks
- Learn use of conscious sedation for prolonged studies
Pacemaker (PM)/Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Lab
- Learn indications for pacemaker or ICD implantation
- Learn surgical skills required for implantation of PM/ICD
- Learn lead placement skills
- Learn principles of pacemaker function including pacing and sensing threshold evaluation with emphasis on acute measurements
- Learn principles of pacemaker function including pacing and sensing threshold evaluation with emphasis on acute measurements
- Learn principles of cardioverter/defibrillator function including pacing and sensing threshold evaluation, defibrillation threshold testing, and anti-tachycardia pacing therapies
- Learn pacemaker/ICD troubleshooting
- Gain experience with lead extraction
- Learn conscious sedation techniques for PM/ICD implantation
PM/ICD Clinic
- Learn PM/ICD chronic evaluation and troubleshooting
- Learn methods of trans-telephonic follow-up of PMs
- Learn electrocardiography of pacemaker rhythms
Outpatient Arrhythmia Clinic
- Learn appropriate use of diagnostic tests including:
- Event recorders
- Holter Monitors
- Signal-averaged electrocardiogram
- Tilt Table Testing
- Invasive electrophysiologic testing
- MRI scan of the heart
- Gain exposure to a variety of arrhythmia patients in an ambulatory setting to assess response to therapy and to monitor for problems
Inpatient Consult Service
- Learn appropriate use of diagnostic tests including:
- Event recorders
- Holter Monitors
- Signal-averaged electrocardiogram
- Tilt Table Testing
- Invasive electrophysiologic testing
- MRI scan of the heart
- Gain exposure to variety of arrhythmia patients in an acute setting to initiate therapy, assess response to therapy and to monitor for problems
Research Experience
- Gain exposure to clinical research projects
- Review current literature in Journal conferences
- Participate in weekly Cardiology Research Conference