Echocardiography for Electrophysiology Procedures

Technological advances have improved the care of patients in many areas of medicine including the electrophysiology (EP) laboratory. The incidence of arrhythmias is increasing, and EP procedures are rapidly evolving to meet these needs. Echocardiography plays an essential role not only in assessment and planning but also in real-time monitoring of these procedures. Echocardiographers have become an important part of the planning and execution of a variety of procedures in the EP lab. Different echocardiography modalities, including TTE, TEE, and ICE, are utilized in the periprocedure settings. The complexity of medical conditions and procedures has led to increasing demands on the care provided by anesthesiologists. This article summarizes the most common EP procedures and the different modalities of echocardiography required for successful outcomes.