Cardiac electrophysiology or Electrocardiophysiology is a branch ofcardiology andbasic science focusing on the electrical activities of theheart. The term is usually used in clinical context, to describe studies of such phenomena by invasive (intracardiac) catheter recording of spontaneous activity as well as of cardiac responses toprogrammed electrical stimulation -clinical cardiac electrophysiology. However, cardiac electrophysiology also encompassesbasic research andtranslational research components. Specialists studying cardiac electrophysiology, either clinically or solely through research, are known as cardiac electrophysiologists.
Electrophysiological (EP) studies are performed to assess complexarrhythmias, elucidate symptoms, evaluate abnormalelectrocardiograms, assess risk of developing arrhythmias in the future, and design treatment. These procedures include therapeutic methods (typicallyradiofrequency ablation, orcryoablation) in addition to diagnostic and prognostic procedures. Other therapeutic modalities used in this field includeantiarrhythmic drug therapy and implantation ofpacemakers,implantable cardioverter-defibrillators andcardiac resynchronisation therapy devices.[1][2]
The cardiac electrophysiology (EP) study typically measures the response of myocardium to programmed electrical stimulation (PES) on specific pharmacological regimens in order to assess the likelihood that the regimen will successfully prevent potentially fatal sustainedventricular tachycardia (VT) orventricular fibrillation VF (VF) in the future. Sometimes aseries of EP study drug trials must be conducted to enable the cardiologist to select the one regimen for long-term treatment that best prevents or slows the development of VT or VF following PES. Such studies may also be conducted in the presence of a newly implanted or newly replaced cardiac pacemaker or ICD.[1]
A specialist in cardiac electrophysiology is known as an electrophysiologist, or "heart electrician" in layman' terms. Cardiac electrophysiology is a subspecialty ofcardiology in most countries and usually requires two or more years of EPfellowship training after a general cardiology residency. In early 2011, theCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services promoted cardiac electrophysiology to its own specialty category in the United States. Cardiac electrophysiologists are trained to perform interventional cardiac electrophysiology studies and cardiac rhythm management device implantations.[1]
Cardiac electrophysiologists specialize in a sub-area ofelectrophysiology, which in turn is a sub-area ofphysiology. This specialization usually requires education at the doctoral (PhD, DSc, or MD/DO) level to become aprincipal investigator for research projects. The area of research is often multi-disciplinary involving chemistry, bioelectrics, biology, and biomedical engineering. The flagship tools used by cardiac electrophysiologists overlap with the toolbox of the neuroscientist includingpatch clamp andoptical mapping.[3]
Mapping specialists (EP techs, EP physiologists) are typically educated up to the Bachelor's or Master's level and are employed by either a cardiac electrophysiology company or department. Often international certification such as Certified Electrophysiology Specialist (CEPS) by the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) or EHRA Certified Electrophysiology Specialist (ECES) or equivalent is required.
Cardiac electrophysiology is a relatively young subdiscipline of cardiology and internal medicine. It was developed during the mid-1970s byHein J. J. Wellens, professor of medicine at theUniversity of Maastricht in theNetherlands and attending cardiologist at the Academic Hospital inMaastricht. In 1980 the first microprocessor based stimulator was developed there.
The author of the definitive textbook in the field is by the lateMark E. Josephson, former Robinette Professor of Medicine and chief of cardiology at theUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, professor of medicine atHarvard Medical School, and attending cardiologist atBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center inBoston, Massachusetts.[4] The most recent published edition ofClinical Cardiac Electrophysiology: Techniques and Interpretations is the 6th edition in 2020.[5]
TheHeart Rhythm Society, founded in 1979, promotes education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals (including cardiac electrophysiologists) and patients. European Heart Rhythm Association, a part ofEuropean Society of Cardiology, is active in Europe.[6]
Founded in 1985 as NASPExAM, the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) offers knowledge based board exams for physicians and allied health professionals working in the field of cardiac electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm device management.[7] European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) provides knowledge and practical competency based certification to physicians and allied health professionals[8] as well as accreditation of cardiac electrophysiology training centres[9] in Europe and neighbouring countries.
Electroanatomic mapping uses electric and magnetic fields to create three dimensional models of heart structures using specialized catheters.