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An EP study usually takes two to four hours to perform. During the procedure,
an IV will be placed in your arm and you will be sedated. A special catheter
will be inserted, usually through an incision in the groin area. X-rays guide
the cardiologist who maneuvers the catheter up into the heart.
Once the catheter is in the heart, the doctor will stimulate the heart with
small electrical signals to make it beat at various rates. You will feel
your heart occasionally beating faster, skipping beats, or pounding in your
chest. These are normal feelings during the study.
If irregular rhythms occur, different medications will be given to determine
which best corrects the irregularity and converts the heart back to a normal
rhythm. On rare occasions, a tiny electrical shock may need to be delivered
to the heart to convert an irregular rhythm back to normal.
Rapid results are essential not only for your peace-of-mind, but
also for your physician to begin planning any necessary treatment.
Experienced radiologists will read the scans and forward the results
to your physician usually by the next business day.
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