The Electrophysiology Lab of the Future.

Abstract

Electrophysiology (EP) labs are fundamental in cardiovascular medicine, especially for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Nowadays, continuous advances in technology have led to significant improvements in the design and functioning of EP labs, including the development of more sensitive and accurate sensors and algorithms as well as three- and four-dimensional imaging and guidance systems. However, there are still significant challenges related to the reduction of radiation exposure, space constraints, and the integration and compatibility between the different EP systems. Future advances in technology will lead to equipment and space improvements as well as the addition of advanced communication and collaboration tools, speech-recognition software, and the development of standardized data formats and centralized cloud-based data storage systems. The EP lab of the future will present multifunctional configurations that will integrate all the advances in technology, optimize workflows, and potentiate collaboration while assuring patient data protection.