Anesthetic considerations for electrophysiologic procedures

The array of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in the cardiology electrophysiology laboratory has expanded rapidly. Increasingly more facilities and cardiologists are performing these procedures, and the number of patients for whom these procedures are indicated is expanding. Because of the complexity of the procedures and associated patient comorbidity, anesthesia providers will become more involved in providing care in the electrophysiology laboratory. Therefore, anesthesia providers must be prepared to handle a broad range of case complexity. This article addresses the implications of providing anesthesia safely and effectively in the electrophysiology laboratory.