Indications for use of intracardiac electrophysiogic studies for the diagnosis of site of origin and mechanism of tachycardias

Abstract

During the past 20 years intracardiac electrophysiologic studies have proven to be of great help in diagnosing site of origin and mechanism of clinically occurring tachycardia [1, 2]. By closely examining the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) from these patients against the background of information derived from intracardiac electrophysiologic studies we have markedly improved the diagnostic abilities of the 12-lead ECG. In fact, we have reached the stage that an intracardiac study is often unnecessary for diagnostic purposes when a 12-lead electrocardiographic recording of the clinically occurring tachycardia is available [3-9].