Electrophysiology Specialist

What is electrophysiology?

Electrophysiology studies are tests that identify the cause of arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).

In a healthy heart, electrical signals travel in a pattern to regulate your heartbeat. When you have scar tissue, high blood pressure, or age-related changes in your heart, the signals can’t travel like they should and result in an abnormal heart rate.

You might be a candidate for an electrophysiology study to determine the best way to treat your arrhythmia. This may help decide if a pacemaker to support your heart when beating too slow is the right treatment. 

The team also offers electrophysiology studies before recommending an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) that treats a fast-beating heart or an implantable loop recorder that records your heart’s electrical activity.

What can I expect during an electrophysiology study?

During your electrophysiology study, your physician inserts catheters and wire electrodes into the blood vessels that enter your heart. 

Generally, the entry point location is your groin or neck, and you only need small incisions. Cary Cardiology, P.A., offers sedation to keep you comfortable during the procedure.

Once the wires are in place, your cardiologist will record your heart’s electrical signals. They might also pace your heart to trigger abnormal rhythms for further observation. Pacing sends small electrical currents into your heart to change its beat pattern.

It’s normal to feel changes in your heart rate, especially racing or pounding. These are part of the process to pinpoint the cause of your arrhythmia.

What happens after an electrophysiology study?

You can expect to need time to recover from your procedure before you can resume your usual activities. Depending on your test results, you might need further treatment to regulate your heart’s rhythm.

The providers Cary Cardiology, P.A., offer an on-site cardiac device clinic to monitor your progress with an ICD, pacemaker, or an implantable loop recorder. The clinic’s highly trained staff continues to monitor how well your device is working and ensure it’s functioning optimally.

During your routine visits, the clinic’s staff checks your device’s battery life, adjusts its settings, and assesses the overall activity in your heart.

To learn more about the benefits of an electrophysiology study, schedule a consultation at Cary Cardiology, P.A., online or by calling the office nearest you today.