Electrophysiology Studies (EPS) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Electrophysiology Studies (EPS) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) are procedures to detect and treat abnormal heart rhythms.
EPS evaluates the electrical conduction system of the heart which controls the rate and timing of heart’s contractions. In EPS, a catheter with an electrode tip is inserted into a vein in the groin or arm and threaded to the heart through X-ray guidance. The electrode records the heart’s pacing activity and is then used to send pacing signals to the heart in an attempt to produce abormal rhythms (called arrhythmias) to pinpoint their origin.
EPS is sometimes combined with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), a procedure in which radiofrequency energy is used to obliterate / remove small areas of the heart that induce abnormal rhythms or arrhythmias.
RFA in Cancer treatment
Radiofrequency ablation is also nowadays used in cancer treatment by some experts. It is used to treat a spot of cancer that is causing problems such as pain or other discomfort, although it is generally not used as the primary treatment for most cancers. The radiologist uses imaging tests to guide a thin needle through the skin or through an incision and into the cancer tissue. High-frequency energy passes through the needle and causes the surrounding tissue to heat up, killing the nearby cells.