electrophysiology study


electrophysiology study

Abbreviation: EPS
A procedure used to determine the cause of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and the effect of treatments to prevent them. EPS is used typically after an episode of sudden death caused by ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, or after symptomatic arrhythmias other than ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, or in patients at high risk of death from these arrhythmias. Electrodes are placed within the heart and used to stimulate rhythm disturbances; the response of the heart can be studied after administration of antiarrhythmic drug therapy or under other controlled conditions. See also: study

Electrophysiology study

A test using cardiac catheterization to stimulate an electrical current to provoke an arrhythmia. The test identifies the origin of arrhythmias and is used to test the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs.Mentioned in: Arrhythmias