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.

Early catheter ablation superior to medication when treating ventricular tachycardia storm

VT storm is associated with a heightened risk of death or significant complications. Early catheter ablation, it seems, is the most effective treatment option for this potentially fatal condition. 

Jason Andrade, MD, FRCPC, FHRS, director of electrophysiology, Vancouver General Hospital, clinical associate professor, University of British Columbia, and principal investigator for the PROGRESSIVE AF trial, explains how cryoablation can be used as a front-line treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib). He presented this late-breaking trial at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2022 meeting, which showed the therapy can be used instead of trying drug therapy first. #AHA22 #EPeeps

VIDEO: Cryoablation can be used as frontline therapy before drugs: PROGRESSIVE AF trial

Jason Andrade, MD, director of electrophysiology, Vancouver General Hospital, and principal investigator of the PROGRESSIVE AF trial, explains how cryoablation can be used as a frontline treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib) before drugs in this AHA late-breaker. 

Image from the American Heart Association (AHA) annual scientific sessions where a large amount of late-breaking cardiology science is presented. #AHA #AHA22 #AHA2022

Links to the American Heart Association 2022 late-breaking studies

The American Heart Association 2022 Scientific Sessions included 35 late-breaking studies and 39 featured science sessions presented at the meeting in Chicago, Nov. 5-7. Here is the list of all these studies with links to more information on the data.

Medtronic’s Arctic Front cryoballoon catheters

Treating AFib early with cryoablation reduces risk of disease progression, repeat hospitalization

“The evidence shows increasingly that it’s time to rethink how we approach the treatment of AFib,” one researcher said.

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare

Predictors of 1-year mortality after TAVR are significantly different among men and women

Atrial fibrillation and peripheral artery disease, for example, are both predictors of mortality among women, but not men. 

Cardiologists, electrophysiologists ‘disappointed’ in final 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

The American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society issued a joint statement soon after CMS published its final rule for the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The groups warned that the final rule could threaten patient access to high-quality care. 

David Bennett with two of his physical therapists at the University of Maryland Medical Center

ECG data from historic pig heart transplant surprise electrophysiologists

“This was a true milestone for research on xenotransplantation," one specialist said. The full analysis is scheduled to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2022 in Chicago.

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Dapagliflozin still beneficial for HFpEF, HFmrEF patients with AFib

While some heart failure medications are less effective in patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation, new research suggests that is not the case for dapagliflozin.