Electrophysiology Study

An electrophysiology study, also known as an EP study, is a minimally invasive test that evaluates your heart rhythm. Our team uses EP studies to diagnose — and sometimes even treat — arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). 

Our approach to an EP study

If left untreated or undiagnosed, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) can lead to a wide range of serious health problems. The good news is that most arrhythmias are treatable. But getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment. 

And that starts with an electrophysiology study, or EP study. An EP study allows your UCI Health electrophysiologist to thoroughly evaluate your heart’s electric system and how it works. 

Typically, your UCI Health physician will order an EP study for you after you’ve undergone noninvasive diagnostic tests, such as:

• An electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG), which records your heart’s electrical activity to identify any irregularities.
• Heart rhythm monitoring, which records your heart rhythm over a set amount of time.
• Imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI of your heart

The results of these tests and your EP study helps your care team identify the location and type of arrhythmia. Armed with this crucial information, they will discuss your arrhythmia treatment options with you.

What is an EP study?

An EP study is a minimally invasive test that gives us a firsthand look at your heart’s electrical system. We use this test to diagnose and treat arrhythmias.

To do the study, your electrophysiologist inserts a thin tube (catheter) through a small incision in your groin to access your heart. They then measure and map your heart’s electric signals. They’ll also assess how your heartbeat reacts to certain stimulus and medication. 

All of this allows your care team to:

• Identify the exact location of the arrhythmia with advanced heart mapping technology
• Determine the specific type of arrhythmia you have
• Determine the best treatment for your specific type of arrhythmia
• Provide treatment for certain types of arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Assess your risk for other heart conditions 

EP study with ablation

During the EP study, your electrophysiologist can determine the best treatment for your specific needs. Before the procedure, they’ll explain there’s a chance they can treat your arrhythmia during the EP study. But they won’t know for sure until they’ve thoroughly evaluated your heart’s electrical system during the study.

Sometimes, this may mean your electrophysiologist will treat your arrhythmia with cardiac ablation during the EP study. During this procedure, they’ll destroy the tissue that’s sending the bad signals to stop the arrhythmia. 

Other times, they’ll find medications are the best treatment option, so they won’t do ablation.

Benefits of an EP study

When you have an irregular heartbeat, sometimes there’s just one circuit that’s misfiring and other times there are several. 

These irregular heartbeats are often so small that only an EP study can identify them accurately. And identifying these tiny movements can be the difference between successfully and unsuccessfully treating your arrhythmia.  

Having an EP study at UCI Health ensures that you’ll get the most accurate arrhythmia diagnosis possible.

What to expect with an EP Study

An EP study is a minimally invasive procedure that’s done in our electrophysiology lab at the hospital. Your care team will give you anesthesia to keep you comfortable and asleep throughout the procedure.

Here’s what you can expect during the procedure:

• Once you’re under anesthesia, your electrophysiologist will insert a thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel near your groin.
• They’ll use image-guided technology to move the catheter to your heart to study several aspects of your heart’s electric system.
• They’ll then measure the electrical activity in your heart in different locations to pinpoint the location of the arrhythmia.
• They may also send electrical signals through the catheter to see how your heart reacts and what’s causing the arrhythmia.
• They’ll do cardiac mapping, which will help them plan additional procedures, if necessary.
• If you’re a good candidate, they’ll sometimes treat the arrhythmia during the procedure with cardiac ablation.

Why Choose UCI Health for an EP study?

Accurate diagnosis

Our electrophysiologists’ expertise with EP studies helps them identify the root cause of your irregular heartbeat down to the millimeter. This level of accuracy is crucial for ensuring successful arrhythmia treatment.

Partnering with you

Your care team will walk you through what you can expect before, during and after your EP study. Our goal is to educate and empower you to take an active role in your care. After the EP study, we’ll thoroughly explain the results and next steps.

Personalized arrhythmia care

If your EP study finds that you have an arrhythmia, we’re here to help. Our arrhythmia care team will discuss your treatment goals, your lifestyle, the risks and benefits of treatment and your personal preferences. They’ll factor in all of this to tailor a treatment plan just for you.