Intracardiac Electrophysiologic Studies

There have been dramatic advances in the field of cardiac electrophysiology (EP) over the past decade. Since the first edition of this text1 was published in 1987, EP has progressed from being primarily a diagnostic and medical discipline, to become an interventional field with the potential for definitive treatment of many rhythm disorders. At many pediatric cardiology centers, transcatheter ablation of various tachyarrhythmias now accounts for the majority of EP procedures performed each year. Associated with these technological advances comes an increased responsibility for cardiologists at all levels of training to develop a solid understanding of fundamental EP principles. Even if a clinician is not directly involved with the management of complex arrhythmias, such knowledge is necessary to insure proper screening and referral of patients who could benefit from EP testing and/or ablation.