Endocavitary electrophysiological study (SEE)

The electrophysiological study can be performed in a patient at risk of cardiac arrhythmias with different clinical indications:

• Diagnostics: when the electrophysiological study can be used for the purpose of performing an arrhythmogenic diagnosis that cannot be performed using non-invasive methods (for example, dysfunctions of the sinus node that can occur with dizziness or syncope, the atrioventricular blocks that are indicated for a definitive pacemaker implant) , tachycardias, ventricular extrasystoles, etc.);
• Therapeutic: when the electrophysiological study is performed for the purpose of establishing adequate therapy, whether pharmacological, surgical or performed during the electrophysiological study itself (for example the ablation of an anomalous pathway or tachycardia);
• Prognostics: when the electrophysiological study aims to establish the risk of sudden death during ventricular arrhythmias.

The electrophysiological study takes place in the electrophysiological room or laboratory, after a short hospitalization. After performing local anesthesia, two to five thin catheters are inserted in the right heart (electrical cables covered with a plastic sheath) which are made to proceed under a permanent radiological control (X-rays). The pathways necessary to reach these heart catheters include the right femoral veins (at the level of the groin), the left subclavian vein (at shoulder level) and rarely the left or right jugular vein (at neck level). An electrical signal is then recorded through the tip of each catheter that originates from the cardiac cavity in which it is located.