Your EP Study will be used to study your heart's
electrical function and locate sites inside your heart that may
be causing abnormal heart rhythms. It will be performed in a special
lab by an electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes
in studying and treating the electrical system of the heart) working
with a team of highly-skilled nurses and technologists.
Before your EP study, your physician will
order an electrocardiogram
(ECG) and blood tests. You'll also be given an opportunity
to talk with the electrophysiologist about the procedure, its
purpose, benefits, and potential risks. EP Studies are common,
low-risk procedures. However, because they involve going inside
the body, there are some risks such as bleeding, swelling, or
bruising at the catheter site, damage to the heart or blood vessels,
blood clot, or infection. This is a good time to discuss all of
your concerns and ask any questions you may have. You'll be asked
to sign a consent form for the procedure and be advised when and
where to report. Your physician will also talk with you about
any prescription and over-the-counter medications you may be taking,
and give you any special instructions concerning taking these
before the test. Generally, you will be asked not to eat or drink
past midnight on the evening of your test, except for sips of
water to swallow your pills.
Just before the EP Study begins, an intravenous
(IV) line will be inserted in your arm to administer medications.
One of these will be a sedative to help you relax. The site where
the catheter (a small plastic tube) will be inserted (groin, arm
or neck) will be shaved and cleaned to make it easier to insert
the catheters and to avoid infection.
Procedure
To help make you more comfortable during the procedure, a local anesthetic will be injected into your skin with a tiny needle. One or more catheters (about the size of a piece of spaghetti) will be inserted into your vein and carefully threaded to your heart. Although you'll be awake during your study, you won't feel the catheters moving through the blood vessels. Your care team will be watching a variety of monitors — TV screens, x-ray machines, and other equipment — to make certain the catheters are positioned exactly and to record such information as your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level.
In order to measure exactly the electrical
activity of your heart, your electrophysiologist may send a series
of controlled impulses through the catheter to your heart. This
stimulation may induce the abnormal heart rhythm that has caused
your symptoms in the past. The rhythm can then be studied, recorded,
and evaluated. This also gives your care team an opportunity to
test the effectiveness of certain medication(s) and find out which
medicines should be prescribed for you. Be sure to let the staff
know if you feel any lightheadedness, palpitations, chest pain,
or shortness of breath.
When an abnormal heart rhythm that has been
induced in the lab does not stop by itself and persists, an additional
symptom that may be experienced is feeling faint. When this occurs,
you will be treated by the staff to restore a normal rhythm and
this feeling will subside.
This testing process usually lasts 45 minutes
to one hour. If abnormal rhythms are identified, medications may
be tested for their effectiveness in preventing the arrhythmia.
This may extend the testing process an additional 45 minutes.
Your Recovery
After the study is over, the catheters will be removed and pressure will be applied to the insertion site (usually the groin, but sometimes the arm or neck) to prevent bleeding. You'll be taken back to your room or a recovery area and monitored for two to three hours.
Although you'll be given something to eat
and drink, it's important to keep your head on your pillow and
your legs straight. Be sure to tell your nurse immediately if
you feel any warmth, pain, or swelling at the catheter insertion
site. Your friends and family can be with you as you rest during
recovery. If you'll be discharged following the recovery period,
plan to have someone drive you home.
Your Treatment
The treatment of your abnormal heart rhythm
is determined by the results of your EP Study. Some abnormal heart
rhythms are controlled with medication(s), some may require devices
(pacemakers and implantable defibrillators), while others are
curable with an ablation (electrical energy to damage the problem
area) procedure. A follow-up study may be performed to evaluate
the effectiveness of the treatment. Remember to follow your instructions
and report any symptoms or side effects from your medications.
Your Good Health
As you are resting during recovery, the electrophysiologist
may discuss some of the test findings with you. However, a complete,
detailed report may take more time. Regardless of the results
of your study and the course of treatment your physician recommends,
you play an important role in staying healthy. Be sure to keep
all appointments for exams and follow-up tests. Follow your instructions,
don't hesitate to talk about your concerns, and immediately report
any new symptoms. As always, if you have any questions about your
health, be sure to ask your physician.
If you are a Munson Healthcare patient and have a compliment,
concern, or complaint, please contact one of our Patient
Liaisons.
