What is an EP Study?
An EP study is an accurate method of assessing the heart's electrical function. It allows doctors to locate abnormal sites inside the heart that may be causing serious arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms). During an EP study, doctors insert special electrode catheters (long, flexible wires) into veins and guide them into the heart. Once inside, the catheters can sense electrical impulses in various areas of the heart; they can also be used to stimulate different parts of the heart. Why is the EP Study Important?
The EP study provides more accurate and detailed information about the heart's electrical function than other diagnostic tests. It helps doctors diagnose the problem accurately and enables them to choose the most effective treatment.
EP studies are most useful in people who have had life-threatening arrhythmias and in people with persistent symptoms in whom suspected arrhythmias could not be diagnosed with other tests. How the Heart Works
Before discussing the details of the EP study, it helps to understand how the heart works.
The heart is a muscular, hollow organ that constantly pumps blood throughout the body. The heart is made up of four compartments, or chambers. There are two chambers on the left side and two on the right side. The upper chamber on each side, called an atrium (plural: atria), receives and collects blood. The lower chamber on each side, called a ventricle, pumps blood. The four heart chambers work together to contract and pump blood. As it circulates, blood delivers oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. The heart's rhythmic contractions depend on its electrical system, which conducts electrical impluses throughout the heart.
The sinus node, a group of specialized cells in the right atrium, is the place where the electrical impulse normally begins. The sinus node functions as the heart's "natural pacemaker," setting the pace for the heartbeat. The electrical impulse travels
a set path and spreads throughout the atria, causing them to contract and squeeze blood into the ventricles. From the atria, the electrical impulse reaches the atrioventricular node, or AV node, which is located between the atria and the ventricles. The impulse then travels to the ventricles through a system of specialized muscle fibers. The system divides into a network of smaller fibers which distribute the
impulse throughout both ventricles. The impulse stimulates the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood. CONTINUED>
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