Cardiac Electrophysiology
An electrophysiology (EP) study is a test that records the electrical activity and the electrical pathways of your heart. This test is used to help determine the cause of your heart rhythm disturbance and the best treatment or device for you to treat your heart rhythm. Studies take place in SACMC’s electrophysiology lab and help determine which treatment option is best for the patient.
Millions of Americans have arrhythmias. Most are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. When the heart rate is too fast, too slow or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart and other organs.
The most common arrhythmias include:
- Atrial fibrillation (most common heart rhythm disorder)
- Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- Persistent atrial fibrillation
- Permanent or continuous atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Premature atrial contractions (PAC or APC)
- Premature ventricular complex (PVC)
- Sick sinus syndrome
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Ventricular tachycardia
The Cause of Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that control heartbeats are delayed or blocked or when extra electrical signals are produced by the heart. Arrhythmias may be the result of:
- Heart disease
- Smoking
- Alcohol abuse
- Use of certain drugs or medications
- Too much caffeine or nicotine
- Stressful situations
- Underlying medical conditions
Signs and Symptoms
Common symptoms:
- Palpitations (a noticeable feeling that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering or beating too fast)
- A slow heartbeat
- An irregular heartbeat
- Noticeable pauses between heartbeats
More serious symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Weakness, dizziness and lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Sudden increase in swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Diagnosis
Several methods are used to diagnose arrhythmias, including medical and family histories and a physical exam, as well as invasive and noninvasive diagnostic tests.
Treatment Options
When an arrhythmia causes serious symptoms, such as dizziness, chest pain or fainting, treatment is strongly recommended. Treatments include:
- Medications. Anti-arrhythmic medications are designed to regain and maintain normal heart rhythm, control the heart rate (pulse), and prevent stroke. They are used to reduce episodes, but they do not cure the problem.
- Cardioversion. During this procedure, a low-level electrical shock is used to reset your heart to its regular rhythm. This noninvasive procedure is performed in the EP lab and medications are used to make you more comfortable.
- Implantable devices. Treatment for heart arrhythmias may also involve the implantation of a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
- Cryoablation. This procedure involves threading a minimally invasive catheter that freezes tissue in the heart’s upper chambers, traditionally around the pulmonary vein, to block the conduction of electrical signals that trigger erratic heart rhythms
- Surgical Intervention. This procedure is traditionally an open-heart surgical procedure called the Cut and Sew Maze, and includes a series of atria incisions in a maze-like pattern intending for the scars to serve as blocks for the abnormal electrical pathways. More common today is surgical ablation on the heart’s surface either at the same time as other heart disease treatments (open heart surgery) or stand-alone through a small portsize incision.
- Radiofrequency Ablation. This procedure uses a minimally invasive catheter approach that delivers radiofrequency energy to destroy the abnormal electrical paths in the heart. Most ablation procedures focus on destroying cells around the pulmonary vein to block or isolate the abnormal electrical paths.
To schedule an appointment, please call: (325) 245-4501
All Community Medical Associates Heart & Vascular physicians are members of the medical staff at San Angelo Community Medical Center. SACMC is designated as the Concho Valley’s only accredited Chest Pain Center and the only area hospital to receive heart failure accreditation. SACMC is also the only area facility to achieve 100% compliance in exceeding the national door-to-balloon time goal of 90 minutes or less and have accomplished that for seven consecutive years. Our rapid-response care gives heart attack patients a better chance to survive.
Community Medical Associates Heart & Vascular Center
CMA Three
3350 Executive Drive
Suite 100
San Angelo, TX 76904
Phone: (325) 245-4501