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.

The increased use of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) is associated with identifying more bradyarrhythmias such as bradycardia, according to new findings published in JAMA Cardiology.

Increased AFib screening improves bradyarrhythmia detection—but is it a mixed blessing?

When long-term continuous monitoring detects bradyarrhythmia in an asymptomatic patient, is it still providing value? 

Medtronic EV ICD clinical trial safety endpoints ESC Congress 2022

Medtronic’s new extravascular ICD gains key approval

Unlike other ICDs, the lead for this new-look device is placed under the patient's breastbone, outside of their heart and veins. 

a 3D intracardiac echo (ICE) view of a surgical mitral valve using the GE NuVision ICE system.

Can intracardiac echo replace TEE during structural heart procedures?

TEE has been used to guide most transcatheter structural heart cases over the past decade, but 3D ICE is changing how some centers image those patients. 

Image courtesy of the University of Missouri Zheng Yan, PhD

Researchers design new material for wearable devices: ‘You cannot feel it, and you will likely forget about it’

The soft, stretchable material creates so little pressure that users will likely not even even be able to feel it. 

Surgeons Operating On Patient

AI model predicts risk of post-operative AFib

Post-operative atrial fibrillation was once viewed as a fairly insignificant issue, but more recent research suggests it can increase a patient’s risk of multiple adverse events. 

Abbott FlexAbility Sensor Enabled Ablation Catheter FDA

Abbott gains new FDA approval for one catheter, CE mark approval for a second catheter

Both devices were approved for treating significant heart rhythm issues. 

Atrial Fibrillation and its location in the atrium detected using the Vektor arrhythmia detection software. COVID infection can cause the development of AFib, AF, in patients as a long-COVID symptom.

VIDEO: The link between COVID-19 and atrial fibrillation

Peter Libby, MD, a cardiovascular medicine specialist with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, discussed the cases of AFib being seen in long-COVID patients.

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Severe gum infections linked to heightened AFib risk

Researchers are still working to determine if gum disease leads to heart rhythm issues or if is actually the other way around.