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Intracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS)

Electrophysiology study - intracardiac; EPS - intracardiac; Abnormal heart rhythms - EPS; Bradycardia - EPS; Tachycardia - EPS; Fibrillation - EPS; Arrhythmia - EPS; Heart block - EPS

 

Intracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) is a test to look at how well the heart's electrical signals are working. It is used to check for abnormal heartbeats or heart rhythms .

How the Test is Performed

 

Wire electrodes are placed in the heart to do this test. These electrodes measure electrical activity in the heart.

The procedure is done in a hospital laboratory. The staff will include a cardiologist, technicians, and nurses.

To have this study:

  • Your groin and/or neck area will be cleaned and numbing medicine (anesthetic) will be applied to the skin.
  • The cardiologist will then place several IVs (called sheaths) into the groin or neck area. Once these IVs are in place, wires or electrodes can be passed through the sheaths into your body.
  • The doctor uses moving x-ray images to guide the catheter into the heart and place the electrodes in the right places.
  • The electrodes pick up the heart's electrical signals.
  • Electrical signals from the electrodes may be used to make the heart skip beats or produce an abnormal heart rhythm. This can help the doctor understand more about what is causing the abnormal heart rhythm or where in the heart it is starting.
  • You may also be given medicines that may also be used for the same purpose.

Other procedures that may also be done during the test:

  • Placement of a heart pacemaker
  • Procedure to destroy small areas in your heart that may be causing your heart rhythm problems (called catheter ablation )

 

How to Prepare for the Test

 

You will be told not to eat or drink for 6 to 8 hours before the test.

You will wear a hospital gown. You must sign a consent form for the procedure.

Your health care provider will tell you ahead of time if you need to make changes to the medicines you regularly take. DO NOT stop taking or change any medicines without first talking to your provider.

In most cases, you will be given medicine to help you feel calm before the procedure. The study can last from 1 hour up to several hours. You may not be able to drive home afterward, so you should plan for someone to drive you.

 

How the Test will Feel

 

You will be awake during the test. You may feel some discomfort when the IV is placed into your arm. You may also feel some pressure at the site when the catheter is inserted. You may feel your heart skipping beats or racing at times.

 

Why the Test is Performed

 

Your provider may order this test if you have signs of an abnormal heart rhythm ( arrhythmia ).

You may need to have other tests before this study is done.

An EPS may be done to:

  • Test the function of your heart's electrical system
  • Pinpoint a known abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that is starting in the heart
  • Decide the best therapy for an abnormal heart rhythm
  • Determine whether you are at risk for future heart events, especially sudden cardiac death
  • See if medicine is controlling an abnormal heart rhythm
  • See whether you need a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

 

What Abnormal Results Mean

 

Abnormal results may be due to abnormal heart rhythms that are too slow or too fast. These may include:

  • Atrial fibrillation or flutter
  • Heart block
  • Sick sinus syndrome
  • Supraventricular tachycardia (a collection of abnormal heart rhythms that start in the upper chambers of the heart)
  • Ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia
  • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

There may be other causes that are not on this list.

The provider must find the location and type of heart rhythm problem in order to determine the proper treatment.

 

Risks

 

The procedure is very safe in most cases. Possible risks include:

  • Arrhythmias
  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots that lead to embolism
  • Cardiac tamponade
  • Heart attack
  • Infection
  • Injury to the vein
  • Low blood pressure
  • Stroke

 

 

Open References

References

Miller JM, Zipes DP. Diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 34.

Olgin JE. Approach to the patient with suspected arrhythmia. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 62.

 
  • Cardiac conduction system

    Cardiac conduction system

    Animation

    •  

    Cardiac conduction system - Animation

    This animation illustrates the cardiac conduction system, a group of specialized muscle cells that signal the rest of the heart to contract. An ECG tracing is shown in tandem with a normal heart beat.

  • Cardiac arrhythmia: Additional tests

    Cardiac arrhythmia: Additional tests

    Animation

    •  

    Cardiac arrhythmia: Additional tests - Animation

    To help diagnose heart arrhythmia, health care professionals may use tests such as long-term ECG recording, exercise testing, heart rate variability, electrophysiological studies, echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound and blood tests.

  • Heart, front view

    Heart, front view - illustration

    The external structures of the heart include the ventricles, atria, arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins carry blood into the heart. The vessels colored blue indicate the transport of blood with relatively low content of oxygen and high content of carbon dioxide. The vessels colored red indicate the transport of blood with relatively high content of oxygen and low content of carbon dioxide.

    Heart, front view

    illustration

  • Conduction system of the heart

    Conduction system of the heart - illustration

    The intrinsic conduction system sets the basic rhythm of the beating heart by generating impulses which stimulate the heart to contract.

    Conduction system of the heart

    illustration

  • Cardiac conduction system

    Animation

    •  

    Cardiac conduction system - Animation

    This animation illustrates the cardiac conduction system, a group of specialized muscle cells that signal the rest of the heart to contract. An ECG tracing is shown in tandem with a normal heart beat.

  • Cardiac arrhythmia: Additional tests

    Animation

    •  

    Cardiac arrhythmia: Additional tests - Animation

    To help diagnose heart arrhythmia, health care professionals may use tests such as long-term ECG recording, exercise testing, heart rate variability, electrophysiological studies, echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound and blood tests.

  • Heart, front view

    Heart, front view - illustration

    The external structures of the heart include the ventricles, atria, arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins carry blood into the heart. The vessels colored blue indicate the transport of blood with relatively low content of oxygen and high content of carbon dioxide. The vessels colored red indicate the transport of blood with relatively high content of oxygen and low content of carbon dioxide.

    Heart, front view

    illustration

  • Conduction system of the heart

    Conduction system of the heart - illustration

    The intrinsic conduction system sets the basic rhythm of the beating heart by generating impulses which stimulate the heart to contract.

    Conduction system of the heart

    illustration

Tests for Intracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS)

 
 

Review Date: 5/5/2016

Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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