Heart Rhythm Monitoring & Pacemaker Services

Specialist Heart Rhythm Assessment and Device Monitoring

Shore Cardiology provides comprehensive heart rhythm monitoring and pacemaker services from Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest and Sydney Adventist Hospital in Wahroonga.

Heart rhythm disorders are common and may present with symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, blackouts, shortness of breath or unexplained fatigue. Accurate diagnosis often requires specialised cardiac monitoring to capture abnormalities that may occur intermittently and are not always apparent during a routine consultation or ECG.

Our cardiologists provide a full range of ambulatory rhythm monitoring services together with pacemaker assessment and ongoing device surveillance.

What Are Heart Rhythm Disorders?

The heart normally beats in a regular and coordinated fashion. Arrhythmias occur when the electrical system of the heart becomes disrupted, resulting in a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or irregular.

Common rhythm disorders include:

  • Atrial fibrillation

  • Atrial flutter

  • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

  • Premature atrial contractions (PACs)

  • Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

  • Bradycardia

  • Heart block

  • Ventricular arrhythmias

Many arrhythmias are benign, while others may require treatment to reduce symptoms or prevent complications such as stroke.

Symptoms That May Require Heart Rhythm Monitoring

Your doctor may recommend cardiac rhythm monitoring if you experience:

  • Palpitations

  • Racing heartbeat

  • Irregular heartbeat

  • Dizziness

  • Lightheadedness

  • Blackouts or syncope

  • Unexplained falls

  • Shortness of breath

  • Intermittent chest discomfort

  • Suspected atrial fibrillation

Monitoring allows us to correlate symptoms with heart rhythm abnormalities and determine whether treatment is required.

Holter Monitoring

Holter monitoring provides continuous ECG recording during normal daily activities.

Patients wear a small portable monitor that records every heartbeat over a specified period.

Holter monitoring is commonly used to investigate:

  • Palpitations

  • Suspected atrial fibrillation

  • Bradycardia

  • Frequent ectopic beats

  • Dizziness

  • Syncope

Depending on clinical requirements, monitoring may be performed over 24 hours, 48 hours or longer durations.

Extended Ambulatory ECG Monitoring

Some rhythm abnormalities occur infrequently and may not be detected during short-term monitoring.

Extended ambulatory ECG monitoring can provide continuous rhythm assessment over several days or weeks, increasing the likelihood of identifying intermittent arrhythmias.

Extended monitoring is particularly useful for patients with:

  • Infrequent palpitations

  • Intermittent dizziness

  • Suspected paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

  • Unexplained syncope

Atrial Fibrillation Detection and Monitoring

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a major risk factor for stroke.

Cardiac monitoring can assist with:

  • Initial diagnosis

  • Assessment of symptom burden

  • Evaluation of treatment effectiveness

  • Monitoring following cardioversion or catheter ablation

  • Stroke risk assessment

Early diagnosis allows timely implementation of strategies to reduce stroke risk and improve quality of life.

Pacemaker Services

Pacemakers are implanted devices designed to treat slow heart rhythms and conduction disorders.

Shore Cardiology provides comprehensive pacemaker surveillance and follow-up including:

  • Routine pacemaker checks

  • Device optimisation

  • Battery longevity assessment

  • Lead performance assessment

  • Symptom evaluation

  • Long-term device management

Regular monitoring ensures the device continues to function appropriately and allows early identification of potential issues.

Remote Pacemaker Monitoring

Many modern pacemakers allow remote monitoring from home.

Remote monitoring enables secure transmission of device information to the cardiology team, allowing earlier detection of significant rhythm disturbances or device-related issues while reducing the need for frequent in-person reviews.

Benefits include:

  • Continuous surveillance

  • Early detection of abnormalities

  • Reduced clinic visits

  • Improved convenience

  • Enhanced long-term follow-up

Who May Benefit from Device Monitoring?

Pacemaker and device follow-up is important for patients with:

  • Permanent pacemakers

  • Dual chamber pacemakers

  • Cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices

  • Implantable loop recorders

  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)

Our cardiologists work closely with patients to ensure ongoing device performance and optimal clinical outcomes.

Why Choose Shore Cardiology?

  • Specialist cardiologist-led rhythm assessment

  • Comprehensive Holter and ambulatory monitoring services

  • Pacemaker and device expertise

  • Remote monitoring capabilities

  • Rapid access to specialist review

  • Convenient locations at Northern Beaches Hospital and Sydney Adventist Hospital

  • Close communication with referring doctors

Referrals

Referrals from general practitioners, emergency departments and specialist practitioners are welcome.

Appointments are available at our consulting suites at Northern Beaches Hospital and Sydney Adventist Hospital.

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