CLINICAL EVENTS CALENDAR
- Monday, September 13, 2010 - 23:00CEPIA Introduction to Cardiac Electrophysiologyhttp://www.cepia.com.au
- Friday, September 17, 2010 - 00:0016th Annual SASEAP Workshop for EP Allied Professionalshttp://www.saseap.org
- Monday, September 20, 2010 - 23:00Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010http://www.tctmd.com
- Friday, September 24, 2010 - 00:00VI International Symposium on Interventional Electrophysiology in the Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias
EP Lab Digest's Discussion Group

Welcome to EP Lab Digest’s official discussion group! This forum was created to help open up a dialogue between members of the electrophysiology community. Please review the questions and let us know if you can provide any input! Your response(s) could appear in an upcoming issue! You can also contribute questions for discussion. There is no cost to participate. When responding to the discussion group, let us know if you would like your name and/or location listed. To submit your own question for consideration Click Here.
Staffing Practices
We are surveying labs throughout the country for feedback regarding staffing practices. How many staff members are required to perform procedures? What is the role/function of each person? Have you ever performed procedures with less than a full team (as defined by your institution)? Where have you obtained data to support your standard of care?
- Cindy Levine, RN, BSN, MA
Distinguishing Block
What are your tips for distinguishing between second-degree atrioventricular block type 1 and 2?
Cable Disorganization
Our lab has an abundance of cables that often become tangled and inevitably damaged. Last week damaged cable resulted in a intraprocedure delay of over 1 hour. Our Biomedical Engineers have authorized our department to contact a third party vendor for consultation. Has anyone had similar issues and if so how did you correct the problem. Does anyone know of a vendor that services this type of problem?
Admitting AF Patients
If your facility performs atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations, are patients admitted following the procedure? What are your reasons for admitting/not admitting these patients? Also, do your AF ablation patients usually receive moderate sedation or general anesthesia for the procedure?
Afib Ablations
Two physician groups at our hospital have recently recruited Atrial Fib docs. We do not currently have an Afib program in our EP lab. Plans have been made to purchase ESI mapping system and we use EP Med Systems. Does anyone have suggestions or a guide on how we should go about training our staff? The biggest part of learning is the plan; any help would be appreciated, especially orientation timelines, classes that would be helpful and/or books that could be helpful for the beginner staff. We currently do more simple ablations, aflutter, SVT, WPW, that sort of thing.
Scope of Practice
I am looking for a detailed "Scope of Practice" for the EP/cath lab. I do have the scope of practice offered on the SICP website.
— John J. Simon III, MBA RT (CV) RCC
Startup Policies & Procedures
Our hospital is planning to start an EP program. I am interested in corresponding with EP lab coordinators willing to share information and/or basic policies & procedures in relation to startup efforts. The EP lab is set up, but has been on standby while an EP physician is being sought. Given the possibility of an accelerated startup, I am reaching out for resources and information. Although I have a number of years’ experience in EP, I have been out of the specialty a few years. I will welcome the input and exchange once again with other EP professionals.
— T. Trahan, RT(R), Florida
Universal Protocol
The 2009 JC standards include more specific language on Universal Protocol and site marking for percutaneous procedures. Are there any EP labs that have adopted site marking as a pre-procedure standard for ablation and device implants?
— Lee Anne Hockey, RCIS, RCES
ICD Patient Protocol
I am looking for information and policy and procedures regarding handling of patients in the gastroenterology lab who have implantable cardiac devices, particularly ICDs. Are company reps being called in, or does the staff use magnets to pause the ICD? Any information would greatly be appreciated.
— Name withheld by request
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- Atrial Fibrillation BlogNassir F. Marrouche, MD
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