Electrophysiology Testing at NYU

Before Your Test

During the Test

After the Test

Going Home

Electrophysiology Testing at NYU

A complete electrophysiology study, including preparation and recovery time, may take from 6 to 8 hours. Be sure to plan accordingly and to bring a care partner with you to the hospital.

Before Your Test

You will undergo Pre-Admission Testing several days to a week before the procedure. This testing will include blood tests, an EKG, chest x-ray, and a medical history and physical assessment. You will also be asked to sign a form giving NYU consent to perform the procedure.

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure. You may be permitted to take your regular medications with a sip of water; check with your doctor.

On the day of your procedure, report to the Admitting Department on the first floor of Tisch Hospital at the scheduled time. The Admitting Clerk will direct you to the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory on the 5th Floor of Tisch Hospital when the team is ready to perform your procedure.

During the Test

When you arrive at the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory, you will be assisted to a special x-ray table and attached to a heart monitor and blood pressure cuff. You will receive a sedative intravenously so you will feel drowsy and relaxed during the procedure. Two large patches will be attached: one to the front of your chest, and one on the back. Energy may be delivered through these pads during the procedure. The area where the doctor will insert the catheters (in the groin) to perform the test will be cleansed with an antiseptic that may feel cold. Before the catheters are placed, you will receive an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the catheter insertion site. Guided by x-ray fluoroscopy, the doctor will insert the catheters into the femoral vein in the groin and advance them until they reach the heart.

You may feel extra or skipped beats as the catheters are placed in your heart. Be sure to tell the EP team what you feel through the entire procedure. IF YOU EXPERIENCE CHEST PAIN, HEAVINESS, OR DISCOMFORT OF ANY KIND, TELL THE STAFF IMMEDIATELY. Most patients experience very little discomfort.

Your doctor will attempt to stimulate your heart to bring on the arrhythmia you have been experiencing. If it can be induced, the doctor will treat it with medications or other techniques to determine how it responds to therapy. He may also choose to apply ablation or cardioversion at this time -- techniques used to treat some arrhythmias.

When the test is over, the doctor will remove the catheters and apply pressure over the area where they were inserted, to prevent bleeding. You will be brought to the Observation Room in NYU's Cooperative Care Unit on a stretcher.

After the Test

Once in the Observation Room of the Cooperative Care Unity, the staff will monitor you closely, taking your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature frequently and checking the catheter insertion site. Your care partner should stay with you in the Observation Room.

It is important that you keep the leg in which the catheters were placed in a straight position to prevent bleeding. Do not bend it. Your nurse will give you specific instructions about how long you will need to do this.

You will be able to eat once you awaken fully from the sedation. Do not try to get out of bed alone; a staff member will help you get out of bed for the first time after your test. If you feel palpitations, chest pain, or any unusual sensations, tell your nurse immediately.

Going Home

Many patients are able to go home the same day as their EP study. Some patients who have ablation as part of the procedure may stay overnight for additional monitoring.

Your doctors will meet with you before your discharge and discuss the results of your EP study. Our nurse practitioner, Aileen Ferrick, will meet with you after the procedure to provide you with specific discharge instructions. She is also available before the procedure, and can be reached by calling 212-263-3556.

Because the sedatives used during the procedure can make you feel tired and sleepy, you should not drive yourself or take public transportation home. Arrange for a care partner to bring you home and to stay with you for at least 24 hours.

Generally you can remove the small bandage on the morning after the procedure, and then you may shower. Do not take a bath or swim for one week. You can usually resume your normal activities the following day, or as directed by your doctor. Avoid lifting or straining, heavy housework, sports, or exercise until directed by your physician. The insertion site will naturally heal within a week. Soreness, slight swelling, and possible bruising is normal. If any bleeding occurs at the insertion site, lie down and apply continuous pressure to the area for at least 10 minutes. If the bleeding continues, call 911 or your local emergency number for assistance.

Increased pain and swelling, redness, drainage, delayed healing, warm skin around the insertion site, or circulatory problems may signal an infection. If you experience any of these symptoms, call us at 212-563-5656, 24 hours a day to speak with a physician. You may experience some discomfort, redness, and itching around the areas where the chest pads were placed. If these symptoms do not resolve within a few days, call us at the Heart Rhythm Center 212-263-5656.

Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor for two weeks after the procedure.

Heart Rhythm Center

NYU Langone Medical Center
403 East 34th Street, RIV-2nd Floor
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-263-7149