Pediatric 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. 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 procedure done to disrupt part or all of an abnormal electrical pathway that is causing the arrhythmia. Energy is delivered through a catheter that is positioned close to the abnormal electrical pathway. The tip of the catheter heats up and creates a small scar so that the arrhythmia can no longer travel through that area and thus can no longer occur. If your child is scheduled for an electrophysiology study you will receive confirmation of the date of the procedure and the time that you should arrive to the hospital by phone and by mail. Your child may need to be seen the day before the procedure so that we can answer any questions you or your child may have and to prepare for the procedure.

This preparation generally involves a physical examination and tests such as an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, and blood work. If your child is scheduled to have the procedure done under general anesthesia, you will also talk to an anesthesiologist. Many times, this can be done the morning of the scheduled procedure.

Children should prepare as they were going to have a typical heart catheterization. You will be asked to bring your child to the clinic at 7 or 7:30 a.m.. An EPS and radiofrequency ablation are done on an outpatient basis. The procedure can take 3 to 6 hours. After the procedure your child will be taken to the Recovery Room or the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for approximately one hour then transferred back to the regular hospital floor until discharge. There are few instances when children need to spend the night. If your child is started on a new medication, hospitalization may be required for varying lengths of time to observe the response to the medication and to adjust the dose as needed.