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.

The increased use of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) is associated with identifying more bradyarrhythmias such as bradycardia, according to new findings published in JAMA Cardiology.

Increased AFib screening improves bradyarrhythmia detection—but is it a mixed blessing?

When long-term continuous monitoring detects bradyarrhythmia in an asymptomatic patient, is it still providing value? 

Medtronic EV ICD clinical trial safety endpoints ESC Congress 2022

Medtronic’s new extravascular ICD gains key approval

Unlike other ICDs, the lead for this new-look device is placed under the patient's breastbone, outside of their heart and veins. 

4 key takeaways from ISC 2023: AFib detection, improved stroke survival and more

Leading stroke specialists from all over the world gathered in Dallas for the 2023 International Stroke Conference. Catch up on some of the biggest stories that came out of the three-day event. 

FDA calls out weight loss pills for ‘hidden’ ingredient that puts health of heart patients at risk Alfia Weight Loss Capsules

FDA calls out weight loss pills for ‘hidden’ ingredient that puts health of heart patients at risk

The agency’s own analysis confirmed that these capsules contain sibutramine, which was removed from the market back in 2010 due to safety concerns

Image courtesy of the University of Missouri Zheng Yan, PhD

Researchers design new material for wearable devices: ‘You cannot feel it, and you will likely forget about it’

The soft, stretchable material creates so little pressure that users will likely not even even be able to feel it. 

Surgeons Operating On Patient

AI model predicts risk of post-operative AFib

Post-operative atrial fibrillation was once viewed as a fairly insignificant issue, but more recent research suggests it can increase a patient’s risk of multiple adverse events. 

Abbott FlexAbility Sensor Enabled Ablation Catheter FDA

Abbott gains new FDA approval for one catheter, CE mark approval for a second catheter

Both devices were approved for treating significant heart rhythm issues. 

Heart palpitations, chest pain among the long-lasting side effects of COVID-19, new research confirms

“Before we examined the data, I thought we would find an ample amount of the symptoms to be specifically associated with long COVID, but that wasn’t the case," one researcher said.