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.

Fitbit’s latest AFib algorithm receives FDA clearance, will be available ‘soon’

The new algorithm was designed to evaluate a user's heart rhythm while they are still or even sleeping. 

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and its associated leads viewed on a X-ray. Old leads are often abandon in veins and new ones added, but a new study of 1 million patients at ACC22 showed there is higher mortality if a device becomes infected and the leads are left behind. Image from RSNA.

VIDEO: Lowering mortality rates from infected EP implantable cardiac devices

Sean Pokorney, MD, director of the arrhythmia core lab, Duke Clinical Research Institute, assistant professor of Medicine, Duke University, discusses a late-breaking ACC 2022 study that shows mortality is higher in patients with implantable electrophysiology (EP) device infections where the leads are not explanted.

Smartwatch app accurately detects atrial fibrillation in large Chinese study

A Chinese study of 2.8 million participants found that 94% of users flagged for AFib indeed have the heart rhythm disorder.

Abbott’s Aveir single-chamber (VR) leadless pacemaker

Abbott’s single-chamber leadless pacemaker gains FDA approval

Another single-chamber leadless pacemaker has officially hit the market. 

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DOACs may reduce the risk of dementia among AFib patients by 50%

Nearly 19,000 patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation were included in the team's analysis. 

Older LAAO patients, especially women, face a higher risk of complications

Researchers explored data from the National Inpatient Sample, sharing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.

A CT image from the Heart Institute in Kyiv, Ukraine, showing a Russian bullet in a civilian patient's upper lung lobe. The patient was being treated at the cardiology hospital after he tried to drive his family out of the area of the front lines and was shot at by Russian soldiers. He is being treated by cardiac surgeon Igor Mokryk MD. Photo by Igor Mokryk.

Heart hospital in Ukraine treating wounded civilians

Cardiothoracic surgeon Igor Mokryk, MD, spent last week taking his family to the Polish border. This week, he treated his first gunshot wound patient at the Heart Institute in Kyiv.

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AI-powered ECG analysis could boost care for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Advanced algorithms can pick up on key details in a 12-lead ECG that human readers are unable to see.