Electrophysiology Study (Radiofrequency Ablation)

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 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.

How do I 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 have nothing to eat or drink after 12 a.m. on the day of the electrophysiology study. Most studies begin at 8 a.m. 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 for approximately one hour then transferred to the inpatient cardiac unit for a period of 4-6 hours. Your child is then discharged from the hospital. 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.

If your child has any problems soon after discharge, please call (734) 764-5176 and ask to speak to one of the nurse practitioners. If calling when the clinic is closed, please call the hospital operator at (734) 936-6267 and ask to speak to the Pediatric Cardiology Fellow who is on call.

2006: Information reviewed and approved by Laura Bell, RN, MSN, PNP Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Lynda Dettling RN, BSN.

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