St. Joseph’s/Candler Advanced Heart Rhythm Center
With atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm problems on the rise, St. Joseph’s/Candler created the Advanced Heart Rhythm Center dedicated to offering the latest technologies and collaboration among the region’s best heart specialists.
The Advanced Heart Rhythm Center is dedicated to collaborate on available treatments and stay abreast of new ones. Currently, to treat arrhythmias such as AFib, our heart specialists are trained on several minimally-invasive procedures including pacemakers, radiofrequency ablation, and the Watchman procedure. St. Joseph’s/Candler was the first facility in the region to offer The Watchman.
Heart rhythm problems are extremely common. The heart has electrical impulses that cause it to contract and relax, which helps the heart pump blood to the body and vital organs. Abnormal electrical impulses cause the heart to beat too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. These electrical heart rhythm abnormalities are called arrhythmias.
Our team of specialized cardiologists – also known as electrophysiologists (EPs) – use the most advanced technology to detect, diagnose and treat arrhythmias and other heart rhythm issues. They specialize in a variety of minimally invasive procedures performed at The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s/Candler including implantable devices like pacemakers, radiofrequency cardiac ablation and the Watchman – a device that closes off the left atrial appendage and reduces a patient’s risk for stroke.
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that occurs when electrical impulses in the heart’s upper chambers are fast or irregular. This causes the heart’s ability to pump the right amount of blood through the body to be impaired. Those who suffer from AFib can sometimes be asymptomatic, regardless of their heart rate, while others may experience a very uncomfortable feeling of their heart racing and feeling weak or lightheaded.
The condition can be a significant risk factor for stroke, especially in older patients suffering from other medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and vascular disease. Young people, however, also can suffer from atrial fibrillation.
Procedures at the Advanced Heart Rhythm Center
The Electrophysiology (EP) Lab at The Heart Hospital offers some of the latest technology available to diagnose and treat abnormal heart rhythms. State-of-the-art EP monitoring units allow specialists to map the heart, determine where the abnormal rhythm is produced and establish the next steps for treatment.
EP studies assist physicians in evaluating abnormal heart rhythms that may interfere with heart function. A special monitoring unit gives the physician the ability to map the heart and determine exactly where the abnormal rhythm is being produced. These studies may also be a useful tool in discovering ways to prevent the abnormal rhythm from causing subsequent heart problems.
Pacemakers
Implantable internal devices, called electronic cardiac pacemakers, are used to regulate the heartbeat. These tiny devices are implanted under the skin below the collarbone with tiny electrodes leading to the heart. Pacemakers take over when the heart rate falls below a certain level, providing a reasonable simulation of normal heart rhythm.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Some types of serious cardiac arrhythmias can be repaired using relatively simple procedures such as ablation. By mapping the electrical activity of the heart, it is possible to locate abnormal tissue. Radiofrequency energy delivered to the area of the abnormal heart rhythm will interrupt the electrical circuit in the heart, thus eliminating the problem.
The Watchman
The Watchman is a device that closes off the left atrial appendage preventing the formation of blood clots and drastically reducing the risk of stroke. The Watchman is recommended for patients with AFib who cannot safely take blood thinners long term.
About Our Doctors
Michael Chisner, M.D., is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist with St. Joseph's/Candler and the Savannah Cardiology Associates. He also is Director of St. Joseph's/Candler Cardiac Catherization Lab. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology.
Dr. Chisner received his Doctor of Medicine in 1985 from University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. He did an internal medicine internship at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, as well as completing his residency at Emory in 1988. Dr. Chisner followed that up with a cardiology fellowship at Emory.
Dr. Chisner has been invovled in research, has been published in several publications and has lectured. He is currently licensed to practice medicine in the states of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Dr. Chisner is an active member of numerous medical associations and societies.
Daniel Cobb, M.D., also is a cardiologist and clinical cardiac electrophysiologist with St. Joseph's/Candler and the Advanced Heart Rhythm Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Electrophysiology.
Dr. Cobb received his Doctor of Medicine in 2010 from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He did an internal medicine residency at the University of Colorado in Aurora, Colo., and completed fellowships in cardiovascular disease and electrophysiology both at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dr. Cobb has been involved in numerous research programs and has teaching and leadership experience. He is a professional member of several associations including the Heart Rhythm Society, American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. He is licensed to practice medicine in the state of Georgia, South Carolina and Colorado.
Contact Us
Dr. Michael Chisner & Dr. Daniel Cobb
11700 Mercy Blvd., Plaza D, #6
Savannah, Ga. 31419
912-927-3434