Electrophysiology Testing

When some of you had an Electrophysiology Test were you completely knocked out or did they just use a local anesthetic? I just read this from my own Dr.'s webiste;
"The site where the catheters will be inserted is cleaned, shaved, and numbed with a local anesthetic. Other than a sedative, patients having an EP study do not receive any anesthetics because they can alter how the heart functions."
I was completely put under and am now wondering if that had any outcome on my results.

6 Comments

I think my mother has the answer

by kyle0816 - 2007-05-30 10:05:39

At the time I think my Dr. thought I was a candidate for an ablation which would have been done at the same time as my EP study. Since they would have done it at the same time and you have to be under for an ablation then it makes sense I guess. Hmmm....

Good question!

by tcrabtree85 - 2007-05-30 11:05:00

Hi Kyle,
I"ve had two EP tests the first one I was asleep for the entire thing and the second one I was awake the entire time. They give you drugs through your IV for pain and what not, some people fall asleep easier with them than others. It is not bad at all that you fell asleep. It is a very painful procedure if you are awake feeling every last thing.
I highly doubt that it has anything to do with what is going on with you right now. Though only a doctor would be able to tell you the answer to that.
Maybe somebody else can give you better answers but as what i've understood it doesn't matter if your awake or asleep. I wish you luck!
Tammy

No your not

by gaby - 2007-05-30 11:05:02

Only time you are under for an Ablation is if you are alittle child. Like 5,6,8,or something like that. They don't put you out for an ablation because it can interfer with the electrical pathways.

EP testing

by Peter.Nash - 2007-05-30 11:05:42

Hi Kyle,
I had my tests done here in the Uk at Papworth hospital. I just had a local anesthetic.and I found the whole thing quite painless feeling the wire go through my viens/arteries was an odd sensation which I did not like too much and when they run my heart up to 250 bpm I thought I was going into orbit but apart from that I thought it was all quite interesting ......but we are all so different on how we react to these things. but I am sure if putting you out would have a bearing on your results I don't think they would have done that'''I was already on medication for a fast heart rate when I had my ep studies but I had to not take any for the proceeding 24 hours so as not to affect the readings.
Like Tammy pointed out it is best to ask your doctor.
happy days Peter.

Hmm

by kyle0816 - 2007-05-31 02:05:05

So now I'm really confused why I would be put under. Could being under have messed with my electrical pathways and caused my heart to go into vtach when stimulated? All my other tests were 100% normal (and I had a TON of tests) except for the EP study which was done while I was under general anesthesia. Ugh, I need to talk with a doctor that's not affiliated with the group that did my procedure.

Comfortable.

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-05-31 02:05:54

During all my Ablations, I was kept comfortably awake. The only time I was knocked out was when my heart was stimulated to go into fibrillation, and took off non stop. They had to do a Cardioversion to stop it, and put me under for that
~ Dominique ~

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