Electrophysiologic testing and cardiac mapping

Abstract

Electrophysiologic testing refers to a catheter procedure that involves the recording of intracardiac electrical signals and programmed electrical stimulation. Electrophysiologic testing provides clinically valuable information in the management of patients with known or suspected cardiac arrhythmias and is useful to determine the mechanisms and physiological characteristics of the cardiac arrhythmia or the future risks of cardiac adverse events. Electrophysiologic testing either may be performed for diagnostic purposes only or may be part of a combined diagnostic and therapeutic (e.g., catheter ablation) procedure. In this chapter, clinical indications, practical diagnostic procedures for various types of cardiac arrhythmia, and an overview of cardiac mapping are reviewed.