Electrophysiologists examine the electrical activity of your heart to diagnose the cause of arrhythmias (also known as irregular heartbeats) and to assist in the selection of appropriate treatment for the condition.
Education And Vocational Instruction
The vast majority of electrophysiologist began their careers as cardiologists and then underwent years of further training to become electrophysiologists. However, some electrophysiologists began their careers as surgeons or anesthesiologists.
A cardiologist must complete a minimum of ten years of medical schooling, which includes the following specializations:
- A total of four years spent in medical school
- A minimum of three years of experience in the field of internal medicine
- Three to four years of specialized study with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease in general
To become an electrophysiologist, one must complete an additional two years of education and training above and above what is necessary to become a board-certified cardiologist. They can perform sophisticated heart tests and interpret the data correctly due to the additional years of education that they have received.
What Exactly Is The Role Of An Electrophysiologist?
Electrophysiologists are trained to diagnose and treat a variety of disorders, including but not limited to the following:
- Atrial fibrillation, also known as a rhythm disorder of the heart
- Bradycardia, which is characterized by an abnormally slow heartbeat
- A cardiac arrest that occurs all of a sudden, which is when the heart stops beating.
- Tachycardia, often known as an abnormally rapid heart rate
- Supraventricular tachycardia, also known as an irregularly rapid heartbeat that originates in the upper chambers of the heart
- Ventricular tachycardia, often known as an abnormally rapid heartbeat
- Ventricular fibrillation, a condition in which the heart muscle quivers abnormally
- Cardiac failure, which occurs when the heart is unable to pump an appropriate amount of blood to the rest of the body due to its weakening muscle mass.
- Cardiac channel disorders, which are hereditary forms of heart disease that are brought on by mutations in the genes
The following are some examples of tests that an electrophysiologist will perform:
- Electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG)
- Echocardiograms
- Investigations into electrophysiology
Research On Electrophysiology
If your primary care physician or cardiologist discovers that you have an irregular heartbeat, they may suggest that you take part in a diagnostic procedure known as an electrophysiological study (EPS).
An electrophysiologist is the one who will carry out this test. They will introduce three to five specialized wires into a blood channel that goes to your heart. These wires are called electrode catheters. Catheters are often put into the groin, arm, or neck of the patient.
The electrophysiologist will give electrical signals to your heart via the catheters, and they will record the electrical activity of your heart as it occurs.
The EPS will contribute to the determination of:
- The cause of your unusually fast or slow heartbeat
- Whether drugs, if any, have a chance of treating your arrhythmia successfully
- If you require a pacemaker or an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (icd) for your heart condition
- Whether or not you require a catheter ablation, which is when a catheter is used to eliminate a very little portion of your heart that is generating the abnormal beating; this is done to determine whether or not you need the procedure.
- The likelihood that you will acquire problems such as a heart arrest
The majority of tests last between two and six hours and are outpatient, which means that you will be able to return home the same day.