Dr. Shukla:
EPS, or electrophysiologic study, is basically a study, it’s a minimally invasive procedure where we place diagnostic catheters that have the ability to record the electrical system of the heart through the veins of either the legs or under the collar bone or in the neck, up into the heart and we place these catheters in the area where the normal electrical impulse should flow, and basically the purpose of that type of study is to be able to identify abnormalities in the heart’s electrical system.
Electrophysiology (EP) Test
An electrophysiology (EP) study is a specialized procedure conducted by a highly trained cardiac specialist, the electrophysiologist (also called the “EP” for short). In this procedure, one or more thin, flexible wires, called catheters, are inserted into a blood vessel (usually in the groin) and guided into the heart. Each catheter has one or more electrodes to measure the heart’s electrical signals as they travel from one chamber to another.
EP studies are done to diagnose your specific condition, to help determine the best treatment, and to pinpoint the site where therapy may be useful. Two different reports can be created from this test:
* An electrogram, which is like an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the inside of the heart. It shows the abnormal signals — where they start and how they move around inside the heart
* A map of the heart’s electrical activity
In an ECG, sensors are attached to your chest. In an electrogram, the sensors (electrodes) are inside your heart.
The latest technology combines an electrical map of the heart with the patient’s CT or MRI scan. This gives the electrophysiologist a three-dimensional view of the patient’s heart.
If you do not experience any abnormal rhythms during the EP test, the electrophysiologist can stimulate the arrhythmia with the electrodes on the catheter. They are also used to help evaluate the effectiveness of some medications in controlling the abnormal rhythm and to assess the need for a device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator (also known as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD).
EP studies have been performed safely for many years; complications are very rare.
Bio:
Himanshu H. Shukla, M.D., specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders and is founder of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (CAI) dedicated to providing heart care customized to the individual. Dr. Shukla is a member of the Heart Rhythm Society, has completed training at Columbia University in New York City, the University of Missouri and the University of Oklahoma. He is recognized for numerous published articles on the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, and by the American Heart Association for Outstanding Research. Dr. Shukla’s community works include raising awareness of heart rhythm disorders, safety and prevention measures through speeches, training and counsel; and contributing external defibrillators to local public schools and other entities.
Dr. Shukla has completed post doctoral training in electrophysiology at the University of Oklahoma/Oklahoma City which is recognized as a world leader in treating heart rhythm disorders, participating in an Advanced Fellowship in Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. He also acquired post-doctoral training at the University of Missouri-Columbia, completing a Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine, and spent his residency for internal medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons’ St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.
In 2003, he was honored by the American Heart Association, receiving its third Annual Cardiology Fellows Forum of Excellence Award.
Dr. Shukla serves on the medical journal review boards of the Journal of Cardiovascular Research: Journal of the European Society of Cardiology; and the Heart Rhythm Journal, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society.
His work has been published on several occasions in medical journals such as the Heart Rhythm Journal; the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology (JICE); Cardiovascular Research; and PACE, the official journal of the International Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Society. His teachings include Advanced Physical Diagnosis as well as presently participating in an Electrocardiogram Lectureship at the Arizona State University School of Nursing.
Dr. Shukla speaks regularly throughout the country on the topic of heart arrhythmia, is recognized nationally by his peers on intervention, and is consulted often on the use and development of defibrillators, pacemakers and other devices to regulate the heart.
Founder of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute based in Mesa, Ariz., Dr. Shukla also leads a nonprofit foundation dedicated to providing education and awareness of heart arrhythmia and contributes defibrillators to schools and other facilities within the community.
Dr. Shukla presently has a provisional patent application pending. He is fluent in Spanish and Gujurati.
