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Ep Defined | Getting Started | Working in the EP Lab
Right Atrium | Right Ventricle | Left Atrium | Left Ventricule | Cardiac Conduction | Cardiac Cell Properties | Action Potential | Sympathetic or Not | Med Page
Electrograms | Surface ECG's | Intracardiac Electrograms | Arrhythmia Analysis | Arrhythmia Mechanisms
The Physical Lab | Tools of the Trade
Setting Up | Catheter Placement | Baseline Measurement | SNRT | Conduction Study | Arrhythmia Induction | Pacing Protocols | Ablation | Tilt Table | Secrets to Success
Bradycardia | Atrial Tach | Atrial Flutter | Atrial Fibrillation | AVNRT | AVRT | Ventricular Tachycardia
Surface ECG's | Intracardiac Questions | Med Challenge | Advanced

Guide to The EP Lab...

Home Page - The main page of The EP Lab web site.
  Introduction to EP - A trial by fire.
    EP Defined - What is cardiac electrophysiology?
    Getting Started - How do you get started in this field?
      Prerequisite Skills - What skills do you need to succeed in EP?
      Program Selection - What type of program provides the best work environment?
      Career Considerations - Should you consider working for EP Industry?
    Working in the Lab - What does it mean to work in the EP Lab?
      Patient Care - Discussions on the perspective of EP for those who care for the patients.
      Techniclly Speaking - A look at the duties for those who handle all the equipment.
  The EP Lab - A look at the room where it all takes place and some of the issues specific to the EP Lab.
    The Physical Lab - When setting up a new lab, there are some considerations you should keep in mind.
      Layout of the Lab - What is the best set up for unimpeaded work flow?
      Are You Sterile? - Should the EP Lab be a sterile room, or a semi-sterile procedural room?
      Problems with Power - How to avoid the problems of too few plugs.
      Cable Conundrum - Cables connect everything. What do you do with all those cables?
      Storage Solutions - Some tips on how to set up storage based upon experience.
      Are You Dedicated? - Should the EP Lab be a dedicated room with dedicated staff?
    Tools of the Trade - What are the various pieces of equipment needed for the EP Lab?
      X-Ray / Fluoro - Found in every lab, should you use single plane or biplane?
      Recording Systems - Some thoughts on how to pick out a good recording system.
      Cardiac Stimulators - From switches and knobs to full blown computerized control.
      Sheaths & Introducers - A look at some of the different sheaths used in EP.
      Catheters & Cables - A discussion on the various catheters used and how to hook them up.
      Ablation Generators - RF generators and Cryo ablation systems
      Cardiac Mapping - 3D Mapping is becoming the norm in most labs. Which should you choose?
      Transseptal Tools - A look at the tools used to cross over to the other side.
  Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology - Understanding the landscape in which you work will help you succeed in the Lab.
    Right Atrium - A discussion of the structures found in the RA.
    Right Ventricle - A discussion of the structures found in the RV.
    Left Atrium - A discussion of the structures found in the LA.
    Left Ventricle - A discussion of the structures found in the LV.
    Cardiac Conduction - A look at the conduction system of the heart.
    Cardiac Cell Properties - A look at the properties of the cardiac cell and how electrical conduction occurs in the heart.
    Action Potential - It all starts with the action potential. Like it or not, you need to know this.
    Sympathetic or Not - The role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve system on cardiac function.
    Med Page - A look at the various meds that affect cardiac function and how they work.
  Fundamentals of EP - Now it is time to learn the language of EP, the language of electrograms.
    Electrograms - What is an electrogram and how is it obtained?
      Recording Modes - A closer look at unipolar and bipolar recordings.
      Electrode Spacing - The effects that electrode spacing has on electrograms.
      Signal Filtering - High pass, low pass and band pass filters and their role in EP.
      EGM Interpretation - A look at the basics of interpreting the electrograms used in EP.
    Surface ECG's - The first non-contact mapping system and the oldest EP tool.
    Intracardiac Electrograms - Looking from the inside out.
    Arrhythmia Mechanisms - Now it is time to learn the how and why of abnormal rhythms.
      Bradycardia - Rhythms that are too slow and why they happen.
      Tachycardia - Above and beyond the normal heart rate into the speeding zone.
      Focal - A look at arrhythmias that originate from a single location.
      Reentry - The normal signal and what happens when it gets stuck in a loop.
    Arrhythmia Analysis - A step by step guide to help you identify the different types of abnormal rhythms.
  EP Procedures - Let's take a look at the work that is done in the EP Lab.
    Setting Up - Pre procedure setup and patient prep.
    Catheter Placement - Vascular access and what catheters are placed where.
    Baseline Measurements - Document the baseline function before the test proceeds.
    Sinus Node Recovery Times (SNRT) - Is the sinus node function normal?
    Conduction Study - How to test refractory periods of cardiac tissue.
    Arrhythmia Induction - Techniques for finding abnormal rhythms.
    Pacing Protocols - How pacing is used to prove your case.
    Ablation - When it comes time to eliminate the problem, ablation is the key.
    The Tilt Table Study - A look at "the other type of EP Study" that evaluates neuro-cardiogenic syncope.
    Secrets to Success - A few steps that will help you in even the toughest cases.
  Cardiac Arrhythmias - A look at all the different abnormal rhythms.
    Bradycardias - Heart blocks and cardiac dysrythmia.
    Atrial Tachycardia - The different locations where focal tachs most often occur.
    Atrial Flutter - A look at typical and atypical flutters.
    Atrial Fibrillation - One of the fastest growing areas of EP.
    AV Nodal Reentry Tachycardia (AVNRT) - Before AF, this was the most common arrhythmia.
    Atrial-Ventricular Reentry Tachycarida (AVRT) (WPW) - Extra connections between the atria and the ventricles and the problems they cause.
    Ventricular Tachycardia - What happens when the big pump malfunctions?
      ARVD - Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplagia
      Outflow Track Tachycardias - A look at RVOT and LVOT PVC's.
      Bundle Branch Reentry VT - One of the more uncommon forms of VT.
      Ischemic VT - Problematic and tough to deal with, what is the best approach for this trouble maker?
  The Study Center - An area to practice and improve your EP skills and knowledge.
    Surface ECG's & Rhythm Strips - Single channel rhythm strips and 12 lead ECG's to practice on.
    Intracardiac Questions - Focus on intracardiac electrograms and what they tell us. Have you learned the language of EP yet?
    Medication Challenge - A review of some of the more common medications used in the lab and what they are used for.
    Advanced EP - Putting together more complex cases. Good luck!