Electrophysiology Procedure

India accounts for almost 60% of the world’s heart disease burden. Among Indians, heart disease is the primary cause of mortality and a silent epidemic. Owing to this, India is home to a plethora of well-trained cardiologists. So, getting a check-up from the best cardiac hospital in Bangalore or any other city is a must for the citizens to ensure good health. 

To assess a patient’s symptoms and create a course of action for the treatment, cardiologists might recommend Electrophysiological Study. An electrophysiological procedure is done to evaluate your heart’s electrical system to check for any heart rhythm abnormalities. 

Contractions in the different parts of the heart are coordinated by natural electrical impulses that help maintain the blood flow. This movement causes the heart rhythm or heartbeat, and an electrophysiological procedure is done to assess anomalies in these rhythms. 

As for the electrophysiological procedure, the doctor inserts a small thin wire electrode into the neck or groin. After the insertion, a doctor carefully threads the wire electrodes through the veins and into the heart. To do this, a doctor uses a particular type of X-ray called fluoroscopy. 

Once the electrodes are in the heart, they measure the heart’s electrical signal. Then, to evaluate and find the cause of a heart abnormality, electric signals are sent through the electrode to stimulate heart tissue. This procedure can also be done to check the effectiveness of a particular medicine.

Why might you need an EP procedure?

• This procedure is relatively new in the field, and here are some of the reasons a cardiologist might recommend you to get an EP study.
• To assess and evaluate symptoms such as faintness, dizziness, fainting, weakness, pulse, or more, check if a rhythm problem causes these symptoms. This test may be recommended when other tests have not made the causes of any symptoms clear, and the doctor still suspects a problem in heart rhythm.
• This study can even help to find out the causes of an abnormally fast or slow heartbeat. 
• To see how well the medicines are working given to treat rhythm problems. 

What are the risks of an electrophysiological procedure?

• There may be some bleeding and bruising at the site where the electrodes or catheters were put into a vein. 
• May cause damage to the vessel that the catheter is put into.
• May result in the formation of blood clots at the end of the catheter that breaks off and travels into the veins.
• In some rare cases, there may be infection of the catheter sites.
• Rarely, it may cause a hole or perforation in the heart.  
• In rare cases, it may cause damage to the heart’s conduction system. 

There could be other risks depending on specific medical conditions, and the doctors in the best cardiac hospitals in Bangalore will communicate clearly about the risks involved. 

After Procedure Care

After the EP procedure, the patient is kept under observation in the hospital, where your vital signs and the insertion site will be monitored. When you have been discharged from the hospital and at home, there are some signs to look out for, and you must contact the doctor if there are any. 

• Fever with chills with temperature crossing 100.4°F.
• Drainage of blood increased pain, redness, or swelling where the catheter was inserted.
• Any changes to the affected leg where the insertion was made, such as coolness, numbness, or tingling 
• Nausea or vomiting, chest pain, profuse sweating, and dizziness. 
• Keep an eye out for these signs and consult the doctor if any of these symptoms appear. 

One must only get an electrophysiological procedure done by the best cardiac hospital in Bangalore or any other city only if it is recommended.