The Cardiology Research Department is recognised as an international centre for excellence in innovation and research. The strong achievements of the department are based on the highly distinguished and distinctive research accomplishments of the consultant cardiologists, specialist registrars, nurses, and administrative staff within our department. In order to attain our mission of providing world class care and to help improve the lives of the people we treat, we believe that it is exceptionally important to make available information on our opportunities for research and what participating in research can provide to patients. Please refer to our patient information for a useful link to arrhythmias alliance explanation of technical terms, tests for heart conditions, and medicines for the heart, valuable information on heart conditions and treatment, answers to our most frequently asked questions, patient testimonials, and for opportunities in research within our department.In parallel, as a teaching centre we believe in the importance of continuous education and in the value of the healthy pursuit of knowledge. The acquisition of research skills forms an important part of the education and training of future health care professionals. Our research interests reflects this principle and provides patients and researchers with an overview of research being undertaken in our department and our aims in doing this research.
It is a researchers responsibility and a patients right to be made aware of and be disseminated results of research that is taking place in their community. Please refer to our project database for information on research projects which have recently taken or are taking place in our department.With leading consultants heading an active team of researchers, the Cardiology Research Department has published a broad array of literature in medical textbooks and in noted journals such as British Heart Journal , British Journal of Cardiology , British Medical Journal ,Circulation , Current Cardiology Reports , Europace , European Heart Journal , Heart , Journal of the American College of Cardiology ,Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Journal of Electrocardiology , Medicine , PACE , and The Lancet . Please refer to publications by members of our team.
Please feel free to contact us. We are always happy to answer questions if we can so if you write to us we will endeavour to reply promptly. Sometimes it is not possible to give accurate advice this way and it is better to see you in an outpatient clinic. If you are not local to St Bartholomew's and The London Chest you can ask your GP to write to us asking us to see you. If you are a private patient please let us know and we can make specific arrangements for you.
Ablation therapy is used to correct certain types of heart rhythm disorders. The Cardiology Research Department has a specialist interest in ablation therapy.
An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rhythm. Arrhythmias represent a major health burden for adults with congenital heart disease and carry a significant morbidity and mortality, yet despite this the specific mechanisms have not been extensively researched. The Cardiology Research Department has a specialist interest into the mechanism and treatment of arrhythmias in congenital heart disease.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of arrhythmia in which the atria beat very rapidly. AF affects 1 in 100 people and is a huge burden on health services, yet despite this its mechanism is poorly understood. The Cardiology Research Department has a specialist interest into AF and to the development of novel strategies for curing the arrhythmia.
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a device which is implanted within the chest wall it monitors the heart rhythm, senses if there is about to be a severe disturbance in heart rhythm and if necessary delivers an electrical impulse or shock to stop the abnormal rhythm and allow the normal rhythm to start again. Please look at our research information on ICDs and biventricular devices.
A pacemaker is a device to stimulate contractions of the heart which gives the heart a signal to contract each time that the heart fails to produce its own signal. Please look at our research information on pacemakers and complex pacing.
We maintain a database with a complete list of research projects, which have recently taken place or are currently taking place in the Department.
Book chapters
Papers and journals
Hunter RJ, Schilling RJ. Termination of atrial fibrillation by flecainide: mechanistic insights fro spectral analysis.Europace. 2010 Feb 18. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
Duncan E, Tayebjee M, Schilling RJ. Distinguishing Far-Field Appendage from Local Pulmonary Vein Signal in the Left Upper Pulmonary Vein During Atrial Tachycardia. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiology.2009 Dec 15 [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
Schilling RJ, Sporton SC, Earley MS; National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). The NICE guidelines for percutaneous epicardial catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia: symptomatic of a guideline-obsessed health service? Heart. 2010 Feb;96(3):229-30. Epub 2009 Nov 11. No abstract available. PMID: 19910290 [PubMed - in process]
Schilling R. Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation and the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. Heart. 2009 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 19910286 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Hunter RJ, Diab I, Thomas G, Duncan E, Abrams D, Dhinoja M, Sporton S, Earley MJ, Schilling RJ. Validation of a classification system to grade fractionation in atrial fibrillation and correlation with automated detection systems. Europace. 2009 Dec;11(12):1587-96. Epub 2009 Nov 6.
Hunter RJ, Diab I, Thomas G, Duncan E, Abrams D, Dhinoja M, Sporton S, Earley MJ, Schilling RJ. A prospective comparison of echocardiography and device algorithms for atrioventricular and interventricular interval optimization in cardiac resynchronization therapy.Europace. 2009 Dec;11(12):1587-96. Epub 2009 Nov 6.PMID: 19897499 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Finlay M, Sawhney V, Schilling R, Thomas G, Duncan E, Hunter R, Virdi G, Abrams D, Sporton S, Dhinoja M, Earley M. Uninterrupted Warfarin for Periprocedural Anticoagulation in Catheter Ablation of Typical Atrial Flutter: A Safe and Cost-Effective Strategy. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2009 Sep 28. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 19793142 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher
Hunter RJ, Finlay M, Schilling RJ, Sporton S. A broad complex tachycardia with conflicting information from pacing manoeuvres.Europace. 2009 Oct;11(10):1392-5. Epub 2009 Jul 10.PMID: 19592410 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Aliot EM, Stevenson WG, Almendral-Garrote JM, Bogun F, Calkins CH, Delacretaz E, Della Bella P, Hindricks G, Jaïs P, Josephson ME, Kautzner J, Kay GN, Kuck KH, Lerman BB, Marchlinski F, Reddy V, Schalij MJ, Schilling R, Soejima K, Wilber D; European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA); Registered Branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC); Heart Rhythm Society (HRS); American College of Cardiology (ACC); American Heart Association (AHA). EHRA/HRS Expert Consensus on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias: developed in a partnership with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), a Registered Branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS); in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Heart Rhythm. 2009 Jun;6(6):886-933. No abstract available. PMID: 19467519 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Liew R, Baker V, Richmond L, Rajappan K, Gupta D, Finlay M, Thomas G, Earley M, Sporton S, Harris S, Schilling R. A randomized-controlled trial comparing conventional with minimal catheter approaches for the mapping and ablation of regular supraventricular tachycardias. Europace. 2009 Aug;11(8):1057-64. Epub 2009 May 2.PMID: 19411675 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Rajappan K, Baker V, Richmond L, Kistler PM, Thomas G, Redpath C, Sporton SC, Earley MJ, Harris S, Schilling RJ. A randomized trial to compare atrial fibrillation ablation using a steerable vs. a non-steerable sheath. Europace. 2009 May;11(5):571-5. Epub 2009 Apr 7.PMID: 19351628 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Kistler PM, Rajappan K, Harris S, Earley MJ, Richmond L, Sporton SC and Schilling RJ. The impact of image integration on catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation using electroanatomic mapping: a prospective randomised study. European Heart Journal, 29(24):3029-3036; 2008 Dec (Read the abstract online)
Rajappan K, Kistler PM, Earley MJ, Thomas G, Izquierdo M, Sporton SC and Schilling RJ. Acute and Chronic Pulmonary Vein Reconnection after Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Prospective Characterization of Anatomical Sites. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, 31(12): 1598-1605 2008 Dec (Read the abstract online)
Richmond L, Rajappan K, Voth E, Rangavajhala V, Earley MJ, Thomas G, Harris S, Sporton SC, and Schilling RJ. Validation of Computed Tomography Image Integration into the EnSite NavX Mapping System to Perform Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 19(8): 821 - 827. 2008 Aug (Read the abstract online)
Kamdar, RH; Schilling RJ. Percutaneous Permanent Pacemaker Implantation Via The Azygous Vein In A Patient With Superior Vena Cava Occlusion. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, 31(3): 386 - 388. 2008 Mar (Read the abstract online)
Kistler PM, Ho SY, Rajappan K, Morper M , Harris S , Abrams D, Sporton SC and Schilling RJ. Electrophysiologic and Anatomic Characterization of Sites Resistant to Electrical Isolation During Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Study. Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology, 18(12): 1282-1288. Dec 2007 (Read the abstract online)
Showkathali R, Earley MJ, Gupta D, Alzetani M, Harris S, Kistler PM , Sporton SC and Schilling RJ. Current case mix and results of catheter ablation of regular supraventricular tachycardia: are we giving unrealistic expectations to patients? Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology 9(11):1064-8. 2007 Nov (Read the abstract online)
Liew R, Rajappan K, Gupta D, Kistler P and Schilling R.Percutaneous epicardial ablation reverses ventricular tachycardia mediated cardiomyopathy. Journal of interventional cardiac electrophysiology Issue: volume 18, number 3 / Pages 265-267. 2007 Apr (Read the abstract online)
Kistler PM, Schilling RJ, Rajappan K, Sporton SC. Image integration for atrial fibrillation ablation-pearls and pitfalls. Heart Rhythm. 2007 Sep;4(9):1216-1221. Epub 2007 Apr 25. No abstract available.
Rajappan K, Schilling RJ. Non-contact mapping in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia after myocardial infarction. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2007 Jun 28; [Epub ahead of print]. (Read the abstract online). Segal OR, Wong T, Chow AW, Jarman JW, Schilling RJ , Markides V, Peters NS, Wyn Davies D. Intra-coronary guidewire mapping-A novel technique to guide ablation of human ventricular tachycardia. J Interv Card Electrophysiol . 2007 Mar;18(2):143-154. Epub 2007 Apr 27. (Read the abstract online).
Abrams DJ, Earley MJ, Sporton SC, Kistler PM, Gatzoulis MA, Mullen MJ, Till JA, Cullen S, Walker F, Lowe MD, Deanfield JE, Schilling RJ .Comparison of Noncontact and Electroanatomic Mapping to Identify Scar and Arrhythmia Late After the Fontan Procedure. Circulation 2007 Apr 3;115(13):1738-46. Epub 2007 Mar 19. (Read the abstract online).
Lane RE, Chow AW, Mayet J, Francis DP, Peter NS, Schilling RJ, Davies DW. The interaction of interventricular pacing intervals and left ventricular lead position during temporary biventricular pacing: evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging. Heart. 2007 Feb 3; [Epub ahead of print]. (Read the abstract online)
Rajappan K, Sporton SC, Schilling RJ. Left atrial tachycardia and inferior vena cava thrombotic occlusion complicating atrial fibrillation ablation successfully treated from the right subclavian vein. Heart. 2007 Jan;93(1):28. No abstract available.
Gupta D, Earley MJ, Haywood GA, Richmond L, Fitzgerald M, Kojodjojo P, Sporton SC, Peters NS, Broadhurst P, Schilling RJ. Can atrial fibrillation with a coarse electrocardiographic appearance be treated with catheter ablation of the tricuspid valve-inferior vena cava isthmus? Results of a multicentre randomised controlled trial.Heart. 2006 Nov 29; (Read the abstract online)
Kistler PM, Rajappan K, Jahngir M, Earley MJ, Harris S, Abrams D, Gupta D, Liew R, Ellis S, Sporton SC, Schilling RJ. The impact of CT image integration into an electroanatomic mapping system on clinical outcomes of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2006 Oct; 17(10):1093-101. (Read the abstract online)
Staniforth AD, Schilling RJ. Reuse of occluded veins during permanent pacemaker lead extraction: a new indication for femoral lead extraction. Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J. 2002 Oct 1; 2(4):97-103. (Read the abstract online)
Abrams DJ, Earley MJ, Sporton SC, Schilling RJ. Successful ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia following the atriopulmonary Fontan procedure. Europace. 2006 Oct; 8(10):907-10. (Read the abstract online)
Earley MJ, Abrams DJ, Sporton SC, Schilling RJ. Validation of the noncontact mapping system in the left atrium during permanent atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Aug 1; 48(3):485-91. (Read the abstract online)
Kistler PM, Earley MJ, Harris S, Abrams D, Ellis S, Sporton SC, Schilling RJ. Validation of three-dimensional cardiac image integration: use of integrated CT image into electroanatomic mapping system to perform catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2006 Apr;17(4):341-8. (Read the abstract online)
Earley MJ, Showkathali R, Alzetani M, Kistler PM, Gupta D, Abrams DJ, Horrocks JA, Harris SJ, Sporton SC, Schilling RJ. Radiofrequency ablation of arrhythmias guided by non-fluoroscopic catheter location: a prospective randomized trial. Eur Heart J. 2006 May ;27(10):1223-9. (Read the abstract online)
Earley MJ, Schilling RJ. Catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. Heart. 2006 Feb; 92(2):266-74. Review. No abstract available.
Kistler PM, Schilling RJ. Non-pharmacological treatment of arrhythmias. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2005 Dec; 66(12):692-5. Review. No abstract available.
Earley MJ, Abrams DJ, Staniforth AD, Sporton SC, Schilling RJ.Catheter ablation of permanent atrial fibrillation: medium term results. Heart. 2005 Aug 23; (Read the abstract online)
Segal OR, Chow AW, Markides V, Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Davies DW.Long-term results after ablation of infarct-related ventricular tachycardia. Heart Rhythm. 2005 May; 2(5):474-82. (Read the abstract online)
Staniforth AD, Sporton SC, Early MJ, Wedzicha JA, Nathan AW, Schilling RJ. Ventricular arrhythmia, Cheyne-Stokes respiration and death: observations from patients with defibrillators. Heart. 2005 Apr 6; (Read the abstract online)
Archbold RA, Robinson NM, Schilling RJ. Radial artery access for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.BMJ. 2004 Aug 21;329(7463):443-6. Review.
Staniforth AD, Sporton SC, Robinson NM, Cooper J, Earley MJ, Nathan AW, Schilling RJ. Is there a sex bias in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator referral and prescription? Heart. 2004 Aug; 90(8):937-8. (Read the abstract online)
Sporton SC, Davies DW, Earley MJ, Markides V, Nathan AW, Schilling RJ. Catheter inversion: a technique to complete isthmus ablation and cure atrial flutter. PACE. 2004 Jun; 27(6 Pt 1):775-8. (Read the abstract online)
Sporton SC, Earley MJ, Nathan AW, Schilling RJ. Electroanatomic versus fluoroscopic mapping for catheter ablation procedures: a prospective randomized study. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 2004 Mar; 15(3):310-5. (Read the abstract online)
Archbold RA, Schilling RJ. Atrial pacing for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a review of the literature. Heart. 2004 Feb; 90(2):129-33. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ. Non-contact mapping of the left ventricle and new insights into the mechanisms for success of biventricular pacing.Heart. 2004 Jan; 90(1):3-4. (Read the abstract online)
Markides V, Schilling RJ. Atrial fibrillation: classification, pathophysiology, mechanisms and drug treatment. Heart. 2003 Aug; 89(8):939-43. (Read the abstract online)
Markides V, Schilling RJ, Ho SY, Chow AW, Davies DW, Peters NS.Characterization of left atrial activation in the intact human heart.Circulation. 2003 Feb 11; 107(5):733-9. (Read the abstract online)
Sporton S, Schilling R. Developments in clinical electrophysiology.Hosp Med. 2003; 64:70-1. (Read the abstract online)
Chow AW, Schilling RJ, Davies DW, Peters NS. Characteristics of wavefront propagation in reentrant circuits causing human ventricular tachycardia. Circulation. 2002 May 7; 105(18):2172-8. (Read the abstract online)
Dalby MC, Schilling RJ. Lesson of the issue: Transection, migration and recovery of a peel-away introducer sheath during permanent pacemaker implantation. Europace. 2002 Apr; 4(2):159-60. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ. Which patient should be referred to an electrophysiologist: supraventricular tachycardia. Heart. 2002 Mar; 87(3):299-304. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ. Replacement of extracted permanent pacemaker or defibrillator leads by cannulation of veins using the femoral "drag through" technique. Heart. 2002 Mar; 87(3):276-8. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ. Can catheter ablation cure post-infarction ventricular tachycardia? European Heart Journal. 2002 Mar; 23(5):352-4. (Read the abstract online)
Peters NS, Schilling RJ, Kanagaratnam P, Markides V. Atrial fibrillation: strategies to control, combat, and cure. The Lancet. 2002 Feb 16; 359(9306):593-603. (Read the abstract online)
Staniforth AD, Schilling RJ. Reuse of occluded veins during permanent pacemaker lead extraction: a new indication for femoral lead extraction. Indian Pacing Electrophysioliogy Journal. 2002; 2(4):97.
Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Goldberger J, Kadish AH, Davies DW.Characterization of the anatomy and conduction velocities of the human right atrial flutter circuit determined by noncontact mapping.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2001 Aug; 38(2):385-93.
Chow AW, Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Davies DW. Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia related to coronary artery disease: the role of noncontact mapping. Current Cardiology Reports. 2000 Nov; 2(6):529-36. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Davies DW, Peters NS. Clinical developments in cardiac activation mapping. European Heart Journal. 2000 May; 21(10):801-7. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Kadish AH, Peters NS, Goldberger J, Davies DW.Endocardial mapping of atrial fibrillation in the human right atrium using a non-contact catheter. European Heart Journal. 2000 Apr; 21(7):550-64. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Peters NS. An introduction to catheter ablation of arrhythmias. British Journal of Cardiology. 2000; 7:594-599.
Kanagaratnam P, Peters N, Schilling RJ. Implantable cardiac defibrillators. British Journal of Cardiology. 2000; 7:145-148.
Schilling RJ. Pacing lead entanglement in the tricuspid valve apparatus during implantation. Europace. 1999 Jul; 1(3):201. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Davies DW. Mapping and ablation of ventricular tachycardia with the aid of a non-contact mapping system. Heart. 1999 Jun; 81(6):570-5. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Davies DW. Feasibility of a noncontact catheter for endocardial mapping of human ventricular tachycardia.Circulation. 1999 May 18; 99(19):2543-52. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Davies DW. Noncontact mapping of cardiac arrhythmias. Journal of Electrocardiology. 1999; 32 Suppl:13-5. (Read the abstract online)
Chow AC, Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Davies DW. Non-contact mapping: how does this affect our ability to ablate difficult arrhythmias? G Ital Cardiol. 1999; 9:337-340.
Kanagaratnam P, Markides V, Lamb DW, Schilling RJ, Davies DW, Chow AWC, Patel P, Peters NS. Human atrial activation mapping: the role of structure and ultrastructure. G Ital Cardiol. 1999; 29:333-337.
Lamb D, Schilling R. Who's for a pacemaker? British Journal of Cardiology. 1999; 6: 580-582.
Schilling R, Peters N. Insertion of permanent pacemakers. British Journal of Cardiology. 1999; 6: 550-6.
Schilling RJ, Davies DW, Peters NS. Characteristics of sinus rhythm electrograms at sites of ablation of ventricular tachycardia relative to all other sites: a noncontact mapping study of the entire left ventricle. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysioliogy. 1998 Sep; 9(9):921-33. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Peters NS, Davies DW. Simultaneous endocardial mapping in the human left ventricle using a noncontact catheter: comparison of contact and reconstructed electrograms during sinus rhythm. Circulation. 1998 Sep 1; 98(9):887-98. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Kaye GC. Paroxysmal atrial flutter suppressed by repair of a large paraesophageal hernia. PACE. 1998 Jun; 21(6):1303-5. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Kaye GC. Epidemiology and management of failed sudden cardiac death. Hosp Med. 1998 Feb; 59(2):116-9. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Davies DW. Intracardiac electrophysiology, ablation and implantable cardiac defibrillators. Medicine. 1998; 26(1):164-170.
Burn S, Schilling RJ, Kaye GC. Cardiac syncope due to transient coronary artery occlusion: the role of percutaneous angioplasty.Post Grad Medical Journal. 1998; 74:361-362.
Peters NS, Jackman WM, Schilling RJ, Beatty G, Davies DW. Images in cardiovascular medicine. Human left ventricular endocardial activation mapping using a novel noncontact catheter. Circulation. 1997 Mar 18; 95(6):1658-60. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Francis CM, Shaw TR, Norell MS. Inoue balloon rupture during dilatation of calcified mitral valves. British Heart Journal. 1995 Apr; 73(4):390. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Norell MS. Coronary artery disease in identical twins.European Heart Journal. 1995 Jan; 16(1):134-5. (Read the abstract online)
Schilling RJ, Hurding SB, Maddocks JL. Care of asthmatics on discharge from hospital: a hospital audit. Journal of Asthma. 1995; 32(2):161-3. (Read the abstract online)
Sinha S, Schilling RJ, Kaye GC, Caplin JL. Clinical evaluation of a dual sensor, rate responsive pacemaker. PACE. 1994 Nov; 17(11 Pt 2):1950-4.
Schilling RJ. Should relatives watch resuscitation? No room for spectators. BMJ. 1994 Aug 6; 309(6951):406. (Read the abstract online)