Selection of patients with recurrence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias for electrical studies

Clinical cardiac electrophysiologic testing has been employed in the evaluation and treatment of patients with tachyarrhythmias. In patients with recurrent supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, electrophysiologic study is indicated when the arrhythmia is life-threatening or significantly disruptive to lifestyle, when empiric therapy has failed to control the arrhythmia, or when supraventricular tachycardia complicates the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. In patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias, electrophysiologic study should be undertaken when life-threatening sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias are documented or when a substantial risk of developing these arrhythmias is noted.