Heart Rhythm

Hearts should have normal rhythm to their beats, but when these beats are out of synch, it causes inefficient pumping of blood. Irregular heart arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats do not work properly. This can cause beats that are too fast (tachycardia), or too slow (bradycardia). Tachycardias include atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Bradycardias include sick sinus syndrome and conduction block. Electrophysiology arrhythmia treatments include medications, life style changes, and the EP lab interventions of catheter ablation, and implantable pacemakers or defibrillators.

Heart Rhythm Society legislative advocacy group raising funds for electrophysiology
This week, Heart Rhythm Advocates announced its establishment and called on cardiologists and EPs to support its efforts with membership and joining committees to guide efforts.
FDA chooses not to approve new nasal spray for heart rhythm issues
Etripamil's journey toward FDA approval hit a roadblock. The agency requested additional information on the drug, including a new facility inspection, in a response letter sent to Milestone Pharmaceuticals.
Abbott gains CE mark approval for Volt PFA system
The approval, which Abbott said arrived earlier than expected, came after regulators reviewed data from a 2024 clinical trial.
Enabling X-ray-free ablation procedures in the EP lab
Exposure to scatter radiation and orthopedic issues related to years of wearing lead aprons during long EP procedures has led electrophysiologists to seek out new ways to reduce the need for angiographic X-ray.
The evolution of RF technology to reduce complications and improve outcomes
Advancements in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation technology have been incremental over the past 30 years in efforts to improve safety, procedural efficiency and patient outcomes. While some newer technologies have gained a lot of attention in electrophysiology (EP) over the past several years, RF remains the solid frontline treatment.

AI cardiology heart artificial intelligence deep learning

The future of cardiology: 5 potentially game-changing AI studies from AHA 2023

AI was one of the biggest stories at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023 conference in Philadelphia. Researchers presented new data about heart attack care, voice recognition algorithms, digital stethoscopes and more.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

10 ways to improve care for in-hospital cardiac arrest

“Nearly 300,000 cardiac arrests occur in hospitals in the United States each year, and only about 25% of people survive to hospital discharge after these types of events,” according to one author of a new analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

QDOT MICRO Biosense Webster Johnson and Johnson

Next-gen RF catheter from Biosense Webster improves QOL in patients with paroxysmal AFib

After 12 months, researchers found that the device was associated with control of AFib in 99% of patients and relief from AFib symptoms in 93.1% of patients.

Samir Kapadia, MD, Cleveland Clinic, explains the WATCH TAVR study results that combined LAAO with transcatheter aortic valve replacement at TCT 2023. #TCT2023 #TAVR #Watchman #LAAO

TAVR and LAAO at the same time? Samir Kapadia breaks down the WATCH-TAVR trial

Could this late-breaking clinical trial from TCT 2023 be a sign of things to come in the years ahead? Samir Kapadia, MD, explored the topic in a new interview.

Google researchers use noise-canceling headphones to monitor heart health

The new technique, audioplethysmography, can monitor a user’s heart rate and other physiological signals using headphones equipped with active noice canceling technology. It requires no additional sensors.

Holding company acquires heart monitoring specialists Digital Diagnostics Imaging for $11M

DDI currently has contracts with nursing homes and hospitals in 42 states.

PARTNER 3, Evolut and more: TAVR takes the spotlight in 4 late-breaking clinical trials at TCT 2023

All eyes were on TAVR during the first round of late-breaking clinical trials at TCT 2023 in San Francisco. Researchers shared key updates related to devices from Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Boston Scientific and JenaValve Technology.

Medtronic extravascular ICD Aurora EV-ICD MRI SureScan

FDA approves Medtronic’s extravascular ICD for abnormal heart rhythms

The Aurora EV-ICD MRI SureScan is similar in size and shape to traditional ICDs, but it is implanted outside of the patient’s heart and veins.

Heart Rhythm

Heart Rhythm Society legislative advocacy group raising funds for electrophysiology

FDA chooses not to approve new nasal spray for heart rhythm issues

Abbott gains CE mark approval for Volt PFA system

Enabling X-ray-free ablation procedures in the EP lab

The evolution of RF technology to reduce complications and improve outcomes