Heart & Vascular Hospital - Procedures
Noninvasive Electrophysiologic (EP) Study

What is it?
A noninvasive electrophysiologic (EP) study is a test in which your heart rhythm can be tested. This study is done by your electrophysiologist, a cardiologist who specializes in treating heart rhythm problems.

How is it performed?
The noninvasive electrophysiologic study is done by using your implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and its programmer to test your heart rhythm, and to test the best way for the ICD to treat the abnormal rhythm.

This test is noninvasive because there are no catheters inserted into the heart during the procedure. The test is completed by only using your ICD and the programmer which communicates with it. You will be sedated during the procedure. You should make arrangements to have someone drive you home from the hospital after the test. Patients frequently feel wide awake after the study and are usually not aware they are still experiencing the effects of sedation.

Preparing for your study
You will be asked to not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the procedure. Your doctor will tell you whether you should stop taking any medications prior to the procedure.

When you go to the hospital

• You will be asked to sign a consent form.
• An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted in your arm.
• You will be given a medication to make you comfortable and sleepy. You may not remember the procedure.

The procedure will take approximately 1 hour. You can usually go home within 2 to 4 hours after it is completed.

9/3/2008