Electrophysiology Study

Electrophysiology Study

Guide

Results

An electrophysiology study will show whether you have an abnormal heartbeat that needs treatment. (Sometimes the treatment is done during the test.)

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Pregnancy.
• Taking warfarin (such as Coumadin) and having problems keeping a safe level of the medicine in your blood.
• Extreme anxiety that causes high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.
• Kidney or liver failure.
• Not being able to follow directions during the procedure.
• Not being able to lie flat.
• Ongoing bleeding problems or infection.

What To Think About

An electrophysiology study can be scary. You may find it helpful to talk to your doctor ahead of time about your fears. If you are awake during the test, you can ask questions and let your doctor and others know how you're feeling.

Related Information

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate)
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Supraventricular Tachycardia

Other Works Consulted

• 
  Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2013). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 6th ed. St. Louis: Saunders.
  
• 
  Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
  
• 
  Miller JM, Zipes DP (2012). Diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. In RO Bonow et al., eds., Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 9th ed., vol. 1, pp. 687-709. Philadelphia: Saunders.
  
• 
  Tedrow UB, et al. (2011). Electrophysiology and catheter-ablative techniques. In V Fuster et al., eds., Hurst's The Heart, 13th ed., vol. 1, pp. 1058-1070. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerRakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
Specialist Medical ReviewerJohn M. Miller, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology