The electrophysiology study

Gillingham, Iain

Abstract

The electrophysiology (EP) study is a highly specialised area of cardiology that is conducted in the cardiac catheter laboratory by an expert staff group. The majority of patients who undergo this procedure will be experiencing palpitation, dizzy spells and possibly syncope caused by cardiac arrhythmias. In patients complaining of palpitation, cardiac arrhythmia is the cause in 34% of cases. In those experiencing syncope, which has many possible causes, a cardiac cause is found in 9.5%. Catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardias such as atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia and atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia enjoys a success rate greater than 95%. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation of all types has a success rate of 65–85%. Minor complications of catheter ablation are seen in 1–5% and major complications occur in 0.5%–2.2% of cases. There are well-documented sex differences in the incidence of arrhythmia, with some tachycardias more common in men or women

Citation

Gillingham, I. (2018). The electrophysiology study. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 13(5), 220-228. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjca.2018.13.5.220

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 23, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 4, 2018
• Publication Date: May 2, 2018
• Deposit Date: Dec 14, 2020
• Journal: British Journal of Cardiac Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1749-6403
• Electronic ISSN: 2052-2207
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 220-228
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjca.2018.13.5.220
• Keywords: Electrophysiology, Cardiology, Arrhythmia, Supraventricular tachycardia, Atrial fibrillation, Catheter ablation, Radiofrequency ablation, Cryoablation
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2701589