Glossary of Terms

Electrophysiology Study
The EP study is an invasive study which allows doctors to assess the heart's electrical system and induce and arrhythmias under controlled conditions. During the study, doctors insert special catheters (long, flexible wires) into veins and guide them into the heart. These catheters sense electrical impulses and may also be used to stimulate different areas of the heart. Doctors can then locate the sites which are causing arrhythmias. This test is useful in diagnosing the mechanism and location of heart rhythm disorders, which enables decisions to be made about the most appropriate treatment method. For some arrhythmias, specialized ablation catheters can be placed at the site of the arrhythmia origin with application of heat energy to cure the arrhythmia.