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.

Cardiologists support new bill that would improve AED access among students

Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who went into sudden cardiac arrest on the football field back in January, has also highlighted the importance of this new bipartisan legislation. 

Images from the consensus document showing the proper left atrial appendage (LAA) sizing assessment for a transcatheter occluder device using transesophageal echo (TEE). Sizing and evaluation for pre-existing thrombus in the LAA also can be performed using cardiac CT.

SCAI and HRS release expert consensus on transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion

One of the new recommendations is to conduct baseline imaging with TEE or cardiac CT.

Atul Verma explains thne results of the PULSE-AF trial at ACC23.

Pulsed-field ablation could be the next big EP technology trend

Atul Verma, MD, director of cardiology at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, explained why the late-breaking PULSED-AF trial data on Medtronic’s pulsed-field ablation technology is so important for cardiologists. 

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Lawsuit blames teen’s death during flight on defibrillator issue, lack of training

A teenager went into cardiac arrest on an American Airlines flight from Honduras to Miami. He never recovered, and now his family has filed a new lawsuit that blames the airline.

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Estrogen may be linked to heart rhythm issues

A new experimental study focused on how different sex hormones can affect the heart's ability to properly pump blood. Estradiol, the most active form of estrogen, stood out as a hormone that requires additional research.

Sphere-9 mapping and ablation catheter

Medtronic gains key approval for new mapping and ablation system

Medtronic acquired the technology in a 2022 deal reportedly worth $925 million.

cardiologist patient heart compensation starting salary 2022 interventional cardiologist

Pulsed-field ablation for AFib not linked to any signs of bronchial damage

As this new ablation technique continues to gain momentum, researchers are hoping to learn as much as possible about any potential side effects. 

B. Hadley Wilson, ACC President ACC.23

New American College of Cardiology President B. Hadley Wilson shares his goals for the future

The veteran interventional cardiologist told Cardiovascular Business he sees potential in the ACC's ability to grow both nationally and internationally in the next year.