Management of anesthesia for procedures in the cardiac electrophysiology laboratory

Heart Rhythm. 2025 Jan;22(1):217-230. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.06.048. Epub 2024 Jun 26.

Abstract

The complexity of cardiac electrophysiology procedures has increased significantly during the past 3 decades. Anesthesia requirements of these procedures can differ on the basis of patient- and procedure-specific factors. This manuscript outlines various anesthesia strategies for cardiac implantable electronic devices and electrophysiology procedures, including preprocedural, procedural, and postprocedural management. A team-based approach with collaboration between cardiac electrophysiologists and anesthesiologists is required with careful preprocedural and intraprocedural planning. Given the recent advances in electrophysiology, there is a need for specialized cardiac electrophysiology anesthesia care to improve the efficacy and safety of the procedures.

Keywords: Cardiac implantable electronic devices; Catheter ablation; General anesthesia; Hemodynamic monitoring; Postoperative period.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia / methods
  • Anesthesia, Cardiac Procedures / methods
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / physiopathology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / therapy
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology / methods
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac* / methods
  • Humans