Electrophysiology Specialist

What is electrophysiology?

Electrophysiology refers to tests and procedures that focus on the heart’s electrical system. 

Your heart has a built-in electrical system, including a natural pacemaker that triggers the impulses that keep your heart beating. When something goes wrong along the electrical pathway, you develop an abnormal heart rhythm. 

Your provider performs an electrophysiology study to diagnose the reason for your abnormal heart rhythm.

What symptoms indicate an electrophysiology problem?

You may not feel an abnormal heartbeat, called an arrhythmia. When you have symptoms, however, you may experience:

• Dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Blurry vision
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Syncope (loss of consciousness)
• Palpitations (a sensation that your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering, or skipping a beat)

If you have syncope, your provider performs a tilt table test before electrophysiology studies. Your provider uses the tilt table to trigger symptoms like dizziness and fainting. The results show if your symptoms develop due to changes in your blood pressure or heart rate.

What happens during an electrophysiology study?

Electrophysical studies map the movement of electrical signals through your heart. Your provider at Pinnacle Healthcare System inserts a specialized catheter into blood vessels and guides it into your heart.

Using wire electrodes in the catheter, your provider records your heart’s usual electrical signals, then makes your heart beat at different speeds. They may send small electric pulses through the catheter or use medications to change the heart’s rhythm.

As they stimulate arrhythmias, the catheter keeps recording the electrical activity as it travels through your heart. This creates a map that reveals where your arrhythmia originates and the source of the problem.

What treatment might I need for electrophysiology conditions?

Depending on your electrophysiology study results, your provider may treat the problem at the same time. You may need a:

• Cardiac ablation
• Pacemaker implantation
• Defibrillator implantation
• Loop recorder implantation

The Pinnacle Healthcare System team provides long-term medical management for patients with chronic rhythm disturbances and those who have a pacemaker, defibrillator, or loop recorder.

Why does Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) need cardiac management?

EDS refers to 13 conditions that damage connective tissues throughout your body. The most common type of EDS causes hypermobile joints (loose joints) and fragile, stretchy skin. Other EDS conditions affect the blood vessels and heart, leading to problems like ruptured vessels and damaged heart valves.

EDS patients who develop heart arrhythmias require experienced physicians. A simple procedure, like inserting a catheter for an electrophysiology study, can easily damage their blood vessels and heart tissues.

The highly skilled team at Pinnacle Healthcare System specializes in managing EDS patients. They safely perform the essential testing and treatments needed for arrhythmias and other heart problems.

If you have symptoms of arrhythmia, call Pinnacle Healthcare System or book an appointment online today.