Week 1- iqra

This week started off pretty slow since I didn’t meet with my clinician until Wednesday, but things picked up quickly after that.One thing that has made a big difference is that Dr. Cheung sent an email out to the department about me shadowing, which has allowed me to move around and observe a variety of electrophysiology procedures rather than being limited to a single physician or case type. This has given me exposure to many different aspects of the field and has helped me gain a broader understanding of cardiac electrophysiology.

In addition to clinical observations, I also met with one of the medical students working on my research project. During our meeting, we discussed some of the technical details and logistics of the project and worked through a few questions regarding the overall direction of the research. We are still in the early stages of planning, so there are additional details that need to be worked out, and we plan to continue those discussions next week.

On Wednesday afternoon, I had the opportunity to observe a pulsed field ablation (PFA) procedure for atrial fibrillation. This was my first time seeing a PFA procedure, and it was interesting to learn how this newer technology uses electrical pulses to selectively target cardiac tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. Although I was observing from the control room, I was able to watch the procedure through the mapping systems and monitors used by the electrophysiology team. The technology involved in these procedures is fascinating, and the screens displaying the heart’s electrical activity and anatomical maps honestly reminded me of a video game.

Thursday was another busy day, as I observed both a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation and a premature ventricular contraction (PVC) ablation. It was interesting to compare these procedures to the PFA procedure I had seen the day before. While both procedures aim to treat abnormal heart rhythms, they use different approaches and technologies to achieve the same goal. During these cases, I spent time learning about the mapping systems used to identify problematic electrical pathways within the heart and how physicians use that information to guide treatment decisions. Seeing how much technology, imaging, and data interpretation are involved in these procedures really emphasized the bridge between engineering and medicine.

Friday was especially exciting because it was my first opportunity to actually stand in the operating room rather than observe from the control room. I watched a pacemaker implantation procedure, which felt particularly relevant to my interests in biomedical engineering because of the direct involvement of medical devices. It was fascinating to see how the device was implanted, how the leads were positioned, and how the team tested the system to ensure it was functioning properly. Observing a device that I have learned about in coursework being used in a real clinical setting was so fascinating. One aspect of the procedure that surprised me was learning that patients undergoing certain cardiac procedures are not always fully under general anesthesia. At first, it was somewhat unsettling to see the patient moving during the procedure because I was not expecting it. However, after learning more about the process, I realized that this is normal and often preferred for specific procedures. 

Later in the day, I also observed a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) ablation. By this point, I was beginning to recognize some of the equipment, terminology, and workflow that had initially seemed overwhelming earlier in the week. I was happy to see how quickly I was becoming more familiar with the electrophysiology environment and to better understand the reasoning behind different procedural decisions.

Overall, this week was filled with observations and learning opportunities. I gained valuable exposure to both the clinical and technological sides of cardiac care. I am looking forward to continuing work on the research project and seeing even more procedures in the coming weeks.


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