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.

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COVID-19 drug Paxlovid may react poorly with certain heart medications, cardiologists warn

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, sold by Pfizer under the name Paxlovid, is commonly prescribed to treat COVID-19. When treating some heart patients, however, physicians may want to consider an alternative approach.

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Marijuana, meth, cocaine and opiates all linked to heart rhythm issues

Reviewing data from more than 23.5 million U.S. patients, the study's authors found that methamphetamine use was linked to a whopping 86% increase in a patient's AFib risk. The other substances included in the analysis were not far behind. 

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Apixaban outperforms rivaroxaban when treating patients with AFib and valvular heart disease

Researchers explored data from nearly 20,000 patients, sharing their findings in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The Medtronic SelectSecure MRI SureScan Model 3830 cardiac lead already gained FDA approval for His-Bundle pacing back in 2018. Now, the lead is also approved for left bundle branch area pacing, providing users with another option when treating patients for bradycardia. According to Medtronic, this marks the first time the FDA has approved a device for this indication.

Medtronic cardiac lead the first to receive FDA approval for conduction system pacing

The company’s SelectSecure MRI SureScan Model 3830 cardiac lead already gained FDA approval for His-Bundle pacing back in 2018. Now, the lead is also approved for left bundle branch area pacing.

Metformin, the popular type 2 diabetes medication, may be an effective AFib treatment

A team of specialists from Cleveland Clinic reviewed nearly 3,000 medications, writing that a common type 2 diabetes medication offered the most potential as an effective treatment for AFib. 

CT has been used for planning and procedural guidance in pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for about 20 years. It shows the anatomy to the electrophysiologist. The EPs also can load the imaging into their EP mapping system. It also shows them the location of the esophagus and the phrenic nerve so they can avoid these during the procedures. #PVI #EPeeps

VIDEO: The expanding role of cardiac CT in electrophysiology

Harold Litt, MD, division chief of cardiothoracic imaging and director of the Center for Advanced CT Imaging Sciences at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, explains the role of cardiac CT in EP procedures.

New-onset AFib, linked to worse outcomes and higher healthcare costs, seen in 3.5% of TEER patients

Patients who developed new-onset AFib tended to be sicker than those who did not. 

A FEOPS image of a Watchman LAA occluder device being checked for virtual sizing in an anatomical model of the patient's left atrial appendage. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, explains the role and technology of LAA closure devices in managing AFib patients.

VIDEO: The value of left atrial appendage occlusion in AFib patients

Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, executive medical director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest Health, explains recent trials in left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) and how the therapy helps atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients. 

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