Electrophysiology Study (EPS)
Invasive cardiac electrophysiology study to diagnose complex heart rhythm disorders — mapping the heart’s electrical system with precision.
What is It?
An Electrophysiology Study (EPS) is a specialised invasive test that examines the electrical conduction system of the heart in detail. It allows your cardiologist to precisely identify the cause, mechanism and location of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Unlike an ECG or Holter monitor, which record heart rhythms from the body’s surface, an EPS maps the heart’s electrical activity from within, providing highly accurate diagnostic information.
At One Heart Centre, our electrophysiologists use EPS as a critical tool for accurately diagnosing complex rhythm disorders and guiding targeted, personalised treatment.
Why is It Performed?
At One Heart Centre, our cardiologists may recommend an Electrophysiology Study to:
- Investigate unexplained palpitations, dizziness or fainting episodes
- Diagnose the precise cause of fast or irregular heart rhythms
- Assess conditions such as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and ventricular arrhythmias
- Determine whether catheter ablation is an appropriate and effective treatment option
- Assess the need for a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
- Guide precise, personalised heart rhythm management strategies
EPS is an essential diagnostic tool for accurately evaluating complex cardiac rhythm disorders when non-invasive tests have not provided a definitive diagnosis.
What Does the Test Involve?
The procedure is performed in a specialised hospital electrophysiology laboratory. You will be awake but given medication to help you relax. Local anaesthetic is applied to the groin area, where thin flexible wires (catheters) are inserted through a vein and gently guided to the heart using X-ray imaging.
Once in position, the catheters record your heart’s electrical signals in real time and may be used to safely stimulate the heart to reproduce your abnormal rhythm under carefully controlled conditions. This allows your electrophysiologist to pinpoint the exact source and mechanism of the arrhythmia.
The procedure usually takes 1–2 hours, depending on complexity. If an abnormal rhythm is identified and treatment has been pre-planned, a catheter ablation may sometimes be performed during the same session.
What are the Benefits?
- Precise, definitive diagnosis of heart rhythm disorders
- Identifies the exact source and mechanism of abnormal heart rhythms
- Directly guides targeted treatment, including catheter ablation therapy
- Helps avoid unnecessary long-term medication
- Highly accurate, personalised assessment tailored to your specific condition