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Heart Hospital - Procedures
Electrophysiology Study (EPS)
Why is the doctor performing this procedure?
Electrophysiology studies are used to diagnose the cause of
symptoms you may have such as palpitations, dizziness or
fainting spells. The procedure is also used to determine the
risk of dangerously fast heart rhythms in select patients.
What is the test?
An electrophysiology study (EPS) is used to check the health
of the internal electrical system that causes your heart to
beat. A normal heart beat starts in the top chamber of the
heart and is conducted through specialized tissue pathways to
the bottom of the heart. If your heart rate becomes too slow,
it is called bradycardia. If your heart rate becomes too fast,
it is called tachycardia. Both tachycardias and bradycardias
can be responsible for symptoms of palpitations, dizziness or
fainting.
During the test, you will be asked to lie on an X-ray table.
You will be connected to equipment that will monitor your
heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing. The nursing staff
will start an IV which is used to give you medication to help
you relax. In general, you will sleep through the procedure,
although you will be breathing on your own. Most patients do
not remember the procedure because of the relaxing
medications.
Using the femoral vein, which is easily found in the crease
where your leg meets your torso, the doctor will numb the area
and insert several specially designed catheters into the
chambers of your heart. He will use the catheters to measure
the electrical impulses as they travel through the heart. In
addition, the electrophysiologist will use the catheters to
generate small electrical impulses, like a pacemaker would, to
try to induce your heart into an abnormal rhythm.
When the procedure is done, the catheters will be removed and you
will have a small dressing over the site where they were
inserted. The results of the test will be reviewed with you by
the electrophysiologist. You will be asked to stay in bed for several hours
to allow the insertion sites to heal and to recover from the
relaxing medication.
If the test has detected abnormalities in the conduction of
electrical impulses through your heart, there are several
different treatments that the doctor may recommend.
Treatment may include recommendations for medications. The
doctor may recommend ablation. In ablation procedures, small
lesions are created in the heart muscle to block the
transmission of abnormal electrical impulses. The electrophysiologist may recommend a pacemaker or an
implantable defibrillator. A pacemaker is used to treat slow
heart rhythms or bradycardias. An Implantable Defibrillator is
used to treat both fast heart rhythms (tachycardias) and slow
heart rhythms (bradycardias).
Where is the test performed?
The test is performed in the Heart Hospital Cardiovascular Lab at Meriter
Hospital.
How long does this test take?
An electrophysiology study usually takes about 2 hours. If the
procedure includes an ablation or the implant of either a
pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator, the test will take
longer. It is difficult to predict how long the test will take
if additional procedures are planned since they vary in
complexity. Ask your doctor or nurse if you have questions
about the length of the procedure.
9/9/2008
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