Heart Rhythm

Hearts should have normal rhythm to their beats, but when these beats are out of synch, it causes inefficient pumping of blood. Irregular heart arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats do not work properly. This can cause beats that are too fast (tachycardia), or too slow (bradycardia). Tachycardias include atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Bradycardias include sick sinus syndrome and conduction block. Electrophysiology arrhythmia treatments include medications, life style changes, and the EP lab interventions of catheter ablation, and implantable pacemakers or defibrillators.

American College of Cardiology (ACC) President Christopher Kramer, MD, FACC, spoke at a hearing of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies March 9 to urge lawmakers to allocate full funding for the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R.6829). It was signed into law in the closing weeks of the Biden administration. #ACC

ACC testifies in Washington to get funding for the HEARTS Act amid big cuts to healthcare

ACC President Christopher Kramer, MD, testified before a Congressional subcommittee to ask for federal funding to support a new law aimed at reducing sudden cardiac arrest deaths, and to support NIH research.

FDA clears new device for enabling access to the heart’s surface without an exposed needle

CardioVia's ViaOne technology includes a blunt-tip needle that remains concealed to help interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists treat cardiac arrhythmias with a reduced risk of perforation or any other complications. 

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

Quality of care for heart patients does not improve in first year of ACO participation

Researchers tracked patient outcomes through the use of 15 performance measures related to hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA), the political advocacy wing of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS).

Heart Rhythm Society legislative advocacy group raising funds for electrophysiology

This week, Heart Rhythm Advocates announced its establishment and called on cardiologists and EPs to support its efforts with membership and joining committees to guide efforts.

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FDA chooses not to approve new nasal spray for heart rhythm issues

Etripamil's journey toward FDA approval hit a roadblock. The agency requested additional information on the drug, including a new facility inspection, in a response letter sent to Milestone Pharmaceuticals. 

Abbott Volt Pulsed Field Ablation

Abbott gains CE mark approval for Volt PFA system

The approval, which Abbott said arrived earlier than expected, came after regulators reviewed data from a 2024 clinical trial.

doctor examines patient data on their tablet

Enabling X-ray-free ablation procedures in the EP lab

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Exposure to scatter radiation and orthopedic issues related to years of wearing lead aprons during long EP procedures has led electrophysiologists to seek out new ways to reduce the need for angiographic X-ray.

Cardiologist Heart Doctor Tablet Technology

The evolution of RF technology to reduce complications and improve outcomes

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Advancements in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation technology have been incremental over the past 30 years in efforts to improve safety, procedural efficiency and patient outcomes. While some newer technologies have gained a lot of attention in electrophysiology (EP) over the past several years, RF remains the solid frontline treatment.