Electrophysiology

This test evaluates abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, when the heart may beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. Arrhythmias are common and can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence while some may indicate a serious problem that could lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death.

Types of arrhythmias: 

• Premature (extra) beats: Your heart’s rhythm is disrupted by beating too early. It may occur in the upper chambers (premature atrial contractions) or the lower chambers (premature ventricular contractions) and usually does not need treatment. 
• Supraventricular arrhythmias: Fast heart rates that start in your heart’s upper chambers, including atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib), atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome.
• Ventricular arrhythmias: Arrhythmias that start in the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles), including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VF or VFib).
• Bradyarrhythmias: A heart rate that’s slower than normal, resulting in not enough blood flow to the brain.

Catheter ablation is used to treat some types of arrhythmia (irregular heart rate or rhythm). During catheter ablation, a series of thin, flexible wires are inserted into your heart through a blood vessel in your groin or wrist. A special machine sends radiofrequency energy through the catheter to tiny areas of the heart muscle that cause the abnormal heart rhythm. The energy destroys and disconnects the pathway of the arrhythmia.

A pacemaker is a small device placed in the chest to help control arrhythmia (abnormal heart rate or rhythms). It sends electrical impulses to the muscle to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. A pacemaker may also be used to relieve some arrhythmia symptoms, such as fatigue and fainting spells.

This can help determine how your body responds to changes in position, especially if you’ve had fainting spells (recurrent syncope). During the test, you’ll be placed on a table that can be moved to a nearly upright position while your symptoms, heart rate and blood pressure are continuously monitored.