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Cardiolucent
Subtle EKG rhythm waveform

Diagnostics

Assessment of Arrhythmia

Palpitations, near-syncope, AFib, family history of arrhythmia, abnormal wearable data and alerts — a thorough arrhythmia evaluation reviews the rhythm data AND the cardiac structure and function. We do this in the office.

What a real arrhythmia workup requires

Rhythm and structure — not just one.

Many arrhythmia workups focus on the rhythm only: an EKG, maybe an ambulatory monitor, and a decision tree based off the tracings. That misses something important. The structure and function of the heart — chamber size, wall thickness, valve function, ventricular performance — drives a meaningful share of triggers for symptomatic palpitations, ectopy, and atrial fibrillation. A rhythm-only evaluation can spot the abnormal beat but miss a treatable association or reason it's happening.

At Cardiolucent every arrhythmia assessment evaluates both. We look at the electrical architecture and the structural anatomy in the same visit.

Stylized anatomical heart with EKG rhythm strip
Dr. Kedan performing point-of-care ultrasound during a cardiac evaluation

The Cardiolucent workup

EKG, complete POCUS, and the right monitor for your pattern.

Every arrhythmia evaluation includes a 12-lead EKG, a complete in-office point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) exam — assessing chamber size and function, valve structure, pericardium, and volume status — and a careful clinical history focused on triggers, frequency, duration, and accompanying symptoms.

From there we determine a diagnostic pathway that will frame a personalized treatment plan.

From palpitations to AFib to the wearable that won't stop alerting.

Arrhythmia evaluation at Cardiolucent commonly covers atrial fibrillation (new diagnosis, recurrence, or rate vs. rhythm strategy decisions), premature atrial and ventricular contractions (PACs and PVCs — when they're benign and when they're not), supraventricular tachycardia, previously unknown ventricular tachycardia, symptomatic and asymptomatic bradycardia, syncope and pre-syncope work-up, palpitations during or after exercise, increased risk of arrhythmia due to a strong family history, and the increasingly common "my watch keeps telling me I'm in AFib" conversation. Each pattern has a different evaluation path — we map it deliberately rather than running one workup for every patient.

An assessment, a plan, and clear next steps.

You leave the visit with a cardiologist's clinical impression, a structured monitoring plan if monitoring is indicated, interpretations of prior tracings and cardiac data brought in, and clear next steps — whether that's reassurance and observation, medication management, lifestyle modification (caffeine, alcohol, sleep, stress, electrolyte monitoring), or referral to a cardiac electrophysiologist or other specialist for procedural management (possible ablation, pacemaker / defibrillator workup, other possible procedures/surgeries/diagnostics).

Built for patients who want clarity, not a checklist.

This evaluation fits patients with palpitations of any frequency; new or recurrent atrial fibrillation; near-syncope or unexplained syncope; abnormal alerts from a wearable device that seek a cardiologist's opinion; family history of arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death; symptoms during or after exercise that don't fit a clear pattern; and patients with existing arrhythmia diagnoses who want an expert cardiologist's review of their current management, and second opinions.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an arrhythmia evaluation at Cardiolucent include?
A 12-lead EKG, a careful clinical history focused on triggers and symptom pattern, a complete in-office point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) exam personally performed by Dr. Kedan to assess heart chamber size and function, valves, pericardium, and volume status, and — if monitoring is indicated — selection of the monitor that fits your symptom frequency.
Why does the evaluation include cardiac ultrasound (POCUS) instead of just an EKG?
Structural abnormalities drive a meaningful share of palpitations, premature beats, and atrial fibrillation — chamber enlargement, valve disease, ventricular dysfunction, pericardial findings. A rhythm-only workup may identify the abnormal rhythm and miss the underlying triggers. Combining a complete POCUS exam with the EKG gives a far more complete picture in the same visit. This is an evidence-based care approach to expediting cardiac diagnoses and care.
I have alerts from my Apple Watch / KardiaMobile / Fitbit — can you review those?
Yes. Bring the device or the exported tracings to your visit or send them to the office beforehand. We will review the actual rhythm strips rather than relying on the device's auto-interpretation. In many cases the wearable data is enough to confirm or rule out the diagnosis; in others it may assist what kind of additional monitoring (if any) is the right next step. The data can frequently be misinterpreted by the proprietary wearable software as well.
Do you treat atrial fibrillation, or do I need to see an electrophysiologist?
Most atrial fibrillation is initially evaluated and managed by a general cardiologist — rate-control or rhythm-control medication decisions, anticoagulation strategy based on stroke risk, treatment of contributing conditions (sleep apnea, hypertension, thyroid disease, other metabolic conditions). When invasive testing, ablation, cardioversion, or device therapy is the next step, we expedite referral to a cardiac electrophysiologist and coordinate care directly rather than handing you off.
What if my symptoms are infrequent? Is it still worth coming in?
Yes. Infrequent symptoms are often the hardest to evaluate well, which is exactly why they benefit from an expert cardiologist's structured approach: history, examination, EKG, in-office POCUS for structural assessment, and a deliberately chosen monitoring strategy (longer patches, event monitors, or implantable loop recorders) calibrated to how rare the events actually are. Doing nothing because symptoms are infrequent is the most common reason real arrhythmia goes undiagnosed.
What should I bring to the visit?
Any prior EKGs, ambulatory monitor reports, prior echocardiograms or cardiac imaging, the wearable device(s) you use (phone with the app installed is fine), a list of your current medications including supplements and stimulants, and notes on when your symptoms occur, how long they last, what they feel like, and what (if anything) triggers them. The more concrete the symptom history, the more useful the evaluation. You don't have to bring anything with you if you have not had a prior evaluation or prefer a fresh look and evaluation.
How is this different from going to a standard cardiology practice for the same problem?
Three differences: time (the visit is scheduled to fit a real evaluation, not a 15-minute slot), completeness (POCUS in the same visit so structure is assessed alongside rhythm, instead of being deferred to a separate echo appointment weeks later), and continuity (the same expert cardiologist sees you, reads your studies, and follows up — not a rotation of staff).

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Medical Disclaimer

The information on this site is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading this site does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal guidance. If this is an emergency, call 911. Mentions of medications, devices, or procedures are informational and not endorsements. Full medical disclaimer.

†Some listed indications involve investigational/off-label use. Learn more.