Abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, is usually minor and not dangerous—but it can be worrisome to patients and physicians alike. Some arrhythmias do require treatment. Especially if patients have other heart problems, arrhythmia should be considered serious and patients should be tested.
Electrocardiograms and other tests may help you gauge the severity of a patient’s arrhythmia. But you should also consider an electrophysiology (EP) study at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana for patients who are at particular risk or are already experiencing heart problems.
EP tests are catheterization procedures that measure electrical activity and the electrical pathways to the patient’s heart. During the EP test, the electrophysiologist will also use a pacemaker to send electrical impulses through a catheter to increase the patient’s heart rate and possibly cause the irregular heartbeat to occur in a controlled setting, while the patient shares a description of symptoms. This can help determine the cause of arrhythmia and suggest the best methods for treating the problem, as well.
The electrophysiology staff at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana is one of the Midwest’s most experienced teams. We offer a full range of electrophysiology services, including:
- Diagnostic studies
- Intervention and treatment plans
- Pacemaker and other device implantation
Typically, EP studies take between two and four hours to perform. Of course, if evidence of a life-threatening heart condition is found, patients have immediate access to the full range of cardiovascular services at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana.