What is an electrophysiology study?
An electrophysiology study, also called an EPS, is a special type of heart catheterization which is done to study the heart’s electrical system. The electrical system controls the heart’s rhythm, including the rate and type of heart beat. An EPS is done when there is concern about a problem with the heart beat or rhythm. How is it performed? During the EPS, doctors insert special electrode catheters (soft wires) into large veins in your child’s groin. These catheters follow the vein all the way into the heart. Once inside the heart, the doctors are able to study the abnormal heat beats or rhythms. An abnormal heart rhythm is also called an arrhythmia. If your child is known to have an arrhythmia, an EPS may be done to determine the effectiveness of different medications needed to treat the arrhythmia, or to discover abnormal pathways or areas in the heart that may be causing the arrhythmia. Finally, an EPS may be done with a procedure called a radiofrequency ablation. This is a procedu
