Patients with abnormal heart beats can expect shorter wait times with the opening of a second heart rhythm lab, thanks to a $1 million dollar donation by Ralph and Shirlee Medjuck. The Medjucks named the lab in honour of their late daughter, Beth, who passed away in 2004 as a result of congenital heart difficulties.

The Heart Rhythm labs at the QEII service the entire child and adult population in Atlantic Canada with arrhythmia - an abnormal heartbeat. Heart arrhythmias cover a broad range of abnormal electric activity within the heart, and can vary in their impact from minor to life‐threatening. They can be successfully treated with a variety of methods, including medications, pacemakers or similar devices, and catheter ablation.  Catheter ablation is a procedure in which wires are put up into the heart through blood vessels to find abnormal circuits and then cauterize them. In some cases, rhythm problems can be cured.  In others, significant improvements in quality of life can be achieved.

Dr. Sapp, the Director of Heart Rhythm Service and Laboratory at Capital Health’s Division of Cardiology, estimates that approximately 2000 patient consultations are seen in the heart rhythm ambulatory clinic each year, and another 7000 pacemaker/defibrillator checks are performed. “Will this have an impact on wait times and quality of life? Definitely,” said Dr. Sapp, “our gratitude goes out to the Medjucks for their generosity that made this possible

Photos: (above) Ralph and Shirlee Medjuck outside the Beth Medjuck Heart Rhythm Laboratory. (Below) Dr. Sapp and his team at work in the lab, where procedures can last up to seven hours.