Electrophysiology

The cardiac subspecialty of electrophysiology (EP) diagnoses and treats arrhythmias. This includes use of pacemakers to treat bradycardia, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) for tachycardia, heart failure and patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and cardiac ablation treatments to treat heart rhythm disorders.

Physician warning

Thousands of reprocessed EP catheters recalled

Stryker Sustainability Solutions is recalling more than 8,000 reprocessed medical devices. This is a Class II recall, according to the FDA, and these devices should no longer be used to treat patients.

Devi Nair, MD, director of electrophysiology and research, St. Bernards Medical Center and Arrhythmia Research Group, spoke with Cardiovascular Business at the Heart Rhythm 2026 meeting in the above video interview. She explained both the explosion of PFA use since the first FDA approvals in 2024, and the recently discovered complications of coronary vessel spasm and hemolysis and how newer PFA technology might address this.

PFA has been a game-changer for heart patients—but there are still risks

Devi Nair, MD, reviewed some of the rare complications clinicians are seeing with PFA.

Video: Samuel Jones, MD, MPH, FACC, director of Inpatient Electrophysiology at the Memorial Hospital for Chattanooga Heart Institute, and co-chair of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) guidance For electrophysiology ablation in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), explains the details of this shift in cardiology care delivery.

Key points to remember when performing cardiac ablations in ASCs

When CMS finalized coverage for cardiac ablations performed in ASCs, experts from HRS and ACC published recommendations for performing those procedures safely and effectively. One of the cardiologists behind that guidance shared some important takeaways with Cardiovascular Business. 

healthcare business deal

Johnson & Johnson to acquire Atraverse Medical

The move, once finalized, helps Johnson & Johnson add multiple FDA-approved technologies to its EP portfolio.

HRS President, Mina Chung, MD, FHRS, staff cardiologist and Professor of Medicine in the Section of Pacing and Electrophysiology, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic. Explains HRS accomplishments in the past year in terms of advocacy efforts and policy concerns impacting EP. #HRS2026 #EPeeps

Heart Rhythm 2026: Electrophysiologist Mina Chung discusses CPR, PFA and much more

Mina Chung, MD, who just concluded a one-year term as Heart Rhythm Society's president, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about successes from the past year as well as her goals for the future.

Heart Rhythm 2026 Program Chair Dhanunjaya "DJ" Lakkireddy, MD, MBA, FHRS, Executive Medical Director, Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, and professor of medicine at the University of Kansas Health System, offers an overview of key trends in electrophysiology (EP) technology.

PFA's dominance and other key electrophysiology trends on display at Heart Rhythm 2026

Heart Rhythm 2026 Program Chair DJ Lakkireddy, MD, spoke to Cardiovascular Business during the conference about several key EP trends. 

FDA recall medical device recall product recall

Boston Scientific pacemakers recalled again—software update now available

The new Class I recall, which includes more than 1.4 million devices, is related to an issue first announced back in 2024. Updating the software should address the issue going forward, though some patients may still require an early replacement. 

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) have become the wonder drug not only of weight loss, but also for improving cardiovascular health in a growing number of positive cardiovascular trials. The latest study of more than 13,000 patients presented at Heart Rhythm 2026 this week showed the GLP-1 reduce atrial fibrillation (AFib) and survival, even after accounting for the drug’s impact on weight loss.

Multiple GLP-1 drugs linked to lower AFib risk

The popular drugs, originally developed to treat diabetes, were also associated with an improved survival rate. Benefits were seen in patients who did and did not lose significant weight as a result of treatment.