Cardiac Electrophysiology

Cardiac electrophysiology is a treatment procedure for the patients with abnormal heart rhythms, including implantable cardiac defibrillators, and resynchronization therapy, as well as ablation for arterial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia. This study of EP is performed to diagnose arrhythmias, or unusual heart rates, by locating small areas of abnormal heart tissue that disrupt the heart's normal electrical system. It elucidates, diagnoses, and treats the electrical activities of the heart. This cardiac treatment is performed to measure the response of the injured or cardiomyopathic myocardium, in order to assess the probability that the regimen will successfully prevent potentially fatal sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in the future. Due to fatal ventricular tachycardia, large number of patients falls in immediate death after they get myocardial infarction (heart attack).

The treatment of cardiac electrophysiology is performed by making an incision usually in the groin area through which an electrode catheter is inserted. One or more indicative catheters are inserted into the blood vessel and softly moved toward the heart. Indicative or diagnostic catheters are used to sense electrical movement in various areas of the heart and to measure where and how speedy these impulses move. These catheters are also used to deliver tiny electrical impulses to stimulate the heart to beat or contract. Through this procedure, physician attempts to induce your arrhythmia so that they can understand more about it and decide how best to treat it.

Usually cardiac electrophysiology study takes about 3-4 hors for successful completion. Patient can return back to home from hospital on the same day of EP test but sometimes overnight stay is required as per the condition of patient. It is advised to patient that, avoid any kind of hard physical work and strain (such as lifting heavy objects for 2-3 weeks. After the treatment procedure, patient usually returns to his/her routine activities within 3- 4 weeks by achieving a complete healthy physical condition.