Conducted to examine the heart, electrophysiology (EP) studies provide information about the organ's electrical activity. This study requires the placement of multiple diagnostic catheters into the heart via the groin, neck, or forearm used to carry out specialized testing.
EP studies analyze the electrical currents within the heart by sending electrical signals and monitoring the resulting electrical activity. This type of test is typically conducted in people who are experiencing conditions such as irregular heart rhythms or loss of consciousness. They are also carried out in people who have a risk of sudden death due to cardiac problems or who are undergoing cardiac ablation procedures or cardiac surgery.
There is a risk of complications occurring in patients who undergo EP studies. Some of the procedure's potential complications include trauma at the point where the catheter entered the body, damage to the heart and blood valves and vessels, blood clots, and death.