Electrophysiology, or EP, is a subspecialty of cardiology that examines the electrical behavior of the heart and treats abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias.

Donald Murray, of Somerset, was one of the first patients to receive services at Charlton’s EP lab. He was first diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat eight years ago.

“It would start with a rumbling in my chest,” the 63-year-old Murray said. “Then I would feel anxious, like I wanted to take a deep breath to calm myself down but the deep breath did not help.”

At the time, Murray was diagnosed with tachycardia — a rapid heartbeat. His condition responded to medication until February 2004 when the symptoms started again. Murray’s cardiologist, Mark Gabry, MD, prescribed a second medication, then a third a few weeks later when the symptoms started again.

	Donald Murray

Dr. Gabry also suggested that Murray think about an ablation — a procedure that disables the tiny areas of the heart that are causing the abnormal beat. Another recurrence of the symptoms in November made it clear that a more permanent solution was necessary.

“Dr. Gabry first thought I would need to go out of the region (or to an academic medical center, or into Boston) for the procedure,” Murray said. “Then the EP lab at Charlton opened.”

Southcoast joined with Massachusetts General Hospital to develop the Charlton EP program. It is headed by Jeremy Ruskin, MD, who also serves as Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service & Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center.

“I could have the procedure I needed right here at Charlton by the same physicians from Boston,” Murray said. “It was like having the best of both worlds.”

“Mr. Murray had a condition called atrial flutter where the top chamber of the heart beats in a rapid rhythm that is out of sync with the bottom chamber of the heart,” said Rose Larrivee, APRN, nurse practitioner for Charlton’s EP program. “The condition can leave patients with palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue and at high risk for stroke.” Murray underwent an atrial flutter ablation on Monday, February 7, 2005, performed by Jagmeet Singh, MD, an electrophysiologist from Massachusetts General Hospital. He was relaxing at home within 24 hours of the procedure.

“I haven’t had any problems since,” Murray said. “Everything went smoothly and everyone was so nice. I always felt comfortable.”

Of his original three medications, Murray is now taking only one to help control a mild case of high blood pressure.

“I sleep a lot better and I like having to take fewer medications,” he said. “It’s great to have these kinds of services close to home.”