Mercy Medical Center offers electrophysiology testing for people who have heart rhythm problems. There are instances when, the hearts electrical system doesnt work properly. This may result in abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. During an arrhythmia, the heart may beat too slowly, too rapidly or irregularly.
An electrophysiology (EP) study is a procedure that is done to help diagnose a heart rhythm problem. An EP study records electrical signals (EKGs) inside the heart. Electrode catheters are inserted through veins to sense electrical activity in various areas of the heart and measure how fast electrical impulses travel.
After the diagnosis, your doctor may decide to implant a pacemaker or defibrillator, or perform catheter ablation, a procedure that treats the problem. The EP study and catheter ablation procedures are very similar and your doctor may decide to perform both procedures at the same time. Catheter ablation is a technique used to eliminate parts of the abnormal electrical pathway in your hearts electrical system that is causing the irregularity and may permanently cure the problem.
Patients who may need electrophysiology studies are those who have experienced unexplained loss of consciousness, recurrent symptoms of heart rhythm problems or who have had life-threatening arrhythmias. For more information about this procedure, please speak to your primary care physician or cardiologist.
