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.

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib
Research that followed patients for more than 13 years suggests increases in ECG PR interval, P‐wave duration and PTFV1 are associated with increased AFib risk in this cohort.
New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic
The study's authors questioned if these patients should even be given oral anticoagulation as currently recommended.
Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential
More research is still required, but Field Medical's FieldForce Ablation System may represent a significant step forward in the treatment of scar-related ventricular tachycardia.
Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system
Stereotaxis and CardioFocus are collaborating on a new robotic pulsed field ablation system. After completing some initial research, the companies are now working toward the launch of a clinical trial.
Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation
Peter Weiss, MD, a veteran electrophysiologist, sat down with Cardiovascular Business to discuss the ongoing rise of pulsed field ablation. While he's impressed with the technology, he says many questions remain about its long-term value.

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with the Watchman FLX device from Boston Scientific is associated with positive outcomes and limited adverse events after one year, according to new findings published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.[1] Many prior Watchman FLX studies, including PINNACLE FLX, had focused on the device’s performance in a controlled setting. The study’s authors hoped to gain a better understanding of its real-world impact by reviewing registry data from more than 97,000 U.S

LAAO with Watchman FLX associated with positive 1-year outcomes, real-world data confirm

Researchers hoped to gain a better understanding of the device's real-world impact by reviewing registry data from more than 97,000 U.S. patients. Overall, the Watchman FLX was linked to positive data and limited adverse events one year after treatment.

Dan Blumenthal, MD, MBA, chief quality officer at the Cardiovascular Associates of America, and a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, spoke at the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) 2024 meeting business sessions on how changes in Medicare payments will impact electrophysiology and cardiology more broadly.

What cardiologists should expect as U.S. healthcare payment models evolve

Cardiologist Dan Blumenthal, MD, MBA, explains how changes in Medicare payments will greatly impact cardiology in the years ahead. In just a few short years, the business side of cardiology could look substantially different than it does today.

Huxley Medical, an Atlanta-based medical device company, has secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its new Sansa device, a chest-worn patch designed to help diagnose sleep apnea in addition to tracking patient data with electrocardiograms (ECGs) a variety of sensors.

FDA clears chest-worn patch for simultaneous ECG, sleep apnea monitoring

The new device from Huxley Medical offers care teams a way to monitor patients for signs of sleep apnea while also keeping a close eye on their heart health.

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Stroke after TAVR in AFib patients: Key risk factors cardiologists should know

Reviewing a patient's medical history can help care teams select the optimal post-TAVR oral anticoagulation strategy.

Anne Kroman, DO, PhD, director of lead management and the device clinic, and assistant professor at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), explains more women need to be included in clinical trials to help better understand sex differences in electrophysiology presentations.

Why electrophysiology trials need to include more women

Most EP clinical study data are from men, Anne Kroman, DO, explained in an interview. This is a significant problem, she said, because heart rhythm issues look quite different in women.

Pharmacists help lower stroke risk in patients with undiagnosed, undertreated AFib

Researchers described pharmacies as an “attractive setting for community-based AFib screening."

FibriCheck, a Belgium-based healthcare technology company, has gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its artificial intelligence-powered digital platform that uses smartphone cameras to obtain heart rhythm measurements.

FDA clears heart rhythm AI that turns smartphones into medical devices

FibriCheck has been increasing its presence in the United States in anticipation of this approval, opening a new office and partnering with U.S. hospitals.

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped cardiologists, radiologists, nurses and other healthcare providers embrace precision medicine in a way that ensures more heart patients are receiving personalized care.

Volta Medical, GE Healthcare partner on AI-powered AFib treatments

Under this new arrangement, Volta Medical's AI software will be integrated into GE Healthcare offerings to improve AFib outcomes.

Electrophysiology

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib

New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic

Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential

Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system

Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation