Electrophysiology

Electrophysiology (EP) is a minimally invasive study of the electrical activity and pathways of the heart that UT Southwestern Medical Center uses to help determine the cause of an abnormal heart rhythm, the origin of the disturbance, and the right treatment.

During the electrophysiology, the doctor will safely reproduce your abnormal heart rhythm and may then give you different medications to test which ones help control the rhythm. The test also can tell the doctor which procedures or devices you might need.

To perform the testing, the doctor will insert small catheters into a vein in your groin, arm, or neck and guide them to your heart. A pacemaker is used to deliver the electrical impulses to the heart to increase the rhythm. The catheters sense the electrical activity and help analyze your heart’s activity.

Types of Electrophysiology Tests

Cardiac stress testing

To determine cardiac functioning and measure the heart during exertion

Echocardiogram

To produce a moving picture of the heart, using a device called a transducer that is placed on the chest

Electrophysiology study

To probe the heart and test all the heart's electrical pathways using a catheter with electrodes

Event monitoring

To record and transmit heart patterns using a small, pager-sized device that records electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns when activated by the patient

Holter monitors

To automatically record a continuous ECG of the heart's electrical activity using an external device worn by the patient

Request an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with an electrophysiology expert at UT Southwestern's facilities in Dallas or for more information about our services, request an appointment or call 214-645-8300.