HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (February 16, 2016) Forrest General Hospital now offers interventional cardiac electrophysiology as part of their Heart and Vascular Services.
The procedures are performed by S. Mark Borganelli, M.D., who trained in general cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Michigan Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.His work has been published in numerous scientific journals, and he has given lectures and presentations on electrophysiology studies and pacemaker/ ICD device management around the country. Most recently, Borganelli served as Director of Emerald Coast Arrhythmia, PA, and Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Prior to that, he was Chief of Cardiac Electrophysiology at University of Mississippi Medical Center for many years.
Electrophysiology studies test the electrical activity of a patient's heart to help doctors diagnose the source of the patient's arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat). The most common arrhythmias are atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, SVT, WPW, and ventricular tachycardia. Physicians use this information to determine a course of action. Medication may correct the problem, or the patient may require a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a heart failure device, cardiac ablation, or surgery.
Dr. Borganelli specializes in trying to prevent sudden death in patients as well as the management and treatment of pacemaker/ICD infections. Forrest General has offered electrophysiology studies for several years, but can now, through the addition of interventional cardiac electrophysiology, treat these illnesses on site.
"We are excited to have Dr. Borganelli join the Heart and Vascular team at Forrest General. Our ability to treat these common illnesses benefit patients by allowing them to receive these procedures close to their homes rather than having to travel long distances to get the care they need," said Rosa Byrd, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.