Have you had an EP Study ? Asking for those who have had this test done.?

I just had an EP study with a cardiac ablation yesterday. I went into the hospital around 9am and got all my vitals taken and had an IV placed, some more blood drawn, and a foley catheter placed (since I was getting an ablation done it makes the whole procedure longer and you won't be able to get up to pee during or for quite a while after). If you're having the catheters that will lead to your heart placed into your groin that area will be shaved. Then I was moved to the EP study room where I was set up on Oxygen, my IV was connected to the sedative meds, I was connected to multiple heart monitors, and three patches were attached to my back, side, and chest to help with the x-ray imaging. A numbing medicine was injected into the left and right side of my groin and some small incisions were made. The catheters were then sent up to my heart where my cardiologist mapped out what my heart looked like. He tried to induce the arrhythmia that was causing my trouble. In my case it took about 2 1/2 hours for the EP study part and maybe 45 mins. for the ablating. I didn't see too much of anything as I was lying flat on my back and my cardiologist (who is an electrophysiologist as well) kept me comfortable during the whole procedure. After that I was taken back to a recovery room where they did an EKG, hooked me up to multiple lead heart monitors and had my blood pressure taken every 15 mins or so. I had to lie flat on my back for an hour (so I could get clots at the incision site), then was allowed to sit up and eat, I had some unexpected bleeding and had to lie flat again, then sit up, and finally after removing the foley catheter I was allowed to walk around and then leave and go home. I left the hospital at around 6:30-7:00ish. The worst part is just the soreness at the incision sites. All in all it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Good luck!

The study involves placing wire electrodes in the heart to measure electrical activity along the heart's conduction system and in heart muscle cells themselves.The procedure is done in a hospital laboratory by a trained staff that includes cardiologists, technicians, and nurses. The environment is safe and controlled to minimize any danger or risk to the patient.

You will clean the groin area and apply a numbing medication (anesthetic). The cardiologist will then place several IVs into the groin area. Once these IVs are in place, tubes (catheters) can be passed through the IVs into the body.

The doctor uses moving x-ray images to carefully guide the catheter up into the heart and place the electrodes into the proper areas. The electrodes detect the heart's electrical activity and map out any abnormal heartbeats. This helps the doctor see the type of arrhythmia the patent has and where the problem starts in the heart.

Abnormal electrical activity can occur anywhere along this heart's conduction system ("the heart's wiring"). Normally, the heart's electrical signals move through the the two chambers on the top of the heart (the atria), to the atrioventricular (AV) node, and then to the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles).

Cardiac conduction system: Test preparations are similar to those for a cardiac catheterization. Food and fluid will be restricted for 6 - 8 hours before the test. The procedure will take place in a hospital. Your patient must sign a consent form for the procedure.

You will give instructions regarding any changes to normal medications. A mild sedative is usually given 30 minutes before the procedure. Your patient may not be able to drive home himself if discharged the same day.

Your doctor is the best person to talk to.Take care always!