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.

Johnson & Johnson pauses use of FDA-approved PFA system to investigate patient complications
Johnson & Johnson MedTech's Varipulse PFA system has been linked to multiple reports of "neurovascular events" in patients. The company hopes to share more information in the days ahead.
History made: Young child treated with new heart device for very first time
A care team in Illinois has performed the first heart procedure of its kind on a two-year-old patient diagnosed with Brugada syndrome.
ACC offers practical approaches for arrhythmia monitoring after stroke
The American College of Cardiology published an expert consensus on practical approaches for arrhythmia monitoring after stroke to improve post-stroke care by identifying and managing atrial fibrillation.
FDA announces recall of cryoablation catheters after multiple injuries, including 4 deaths
Boston Scientific is recalling the catheters associated with its POLARx Cryoablation System due to a heightened risk of esophageal injury. The FDA has ruled that this a Class I recall.
Cardiologists perform world’s first leadless LBBAP procedures with Abbott pacemaker
The first-in-human procedures were performed in Prague with the investigational Aveir CSP leadless pacemaker system.

Why AFib patients should exercise regularly

Recurrent AFib episodes were much less likely when patients participated in a six-month exercise program.

August 31, 2021

More than 10% of cardiac arrest patients contacted EMS the day before

These findings indicate that breathing problems may be an underrated warning sign of cardiac arrest, researchers said recently at ESC Congress 2021.

August 30, 2021

Most AFib patients underestimate their bleeding risk

Researchers aimed to see how many AFib patients on OACs truly understood their risk of a major bleeding event.

August 20, 2021

LAAO outcomes significantly worse among women

Researchers tracked data from more than 49,000 patients who underwent LAAO from January 2016 to June 2019.

August 19, 2021

Catheter ablation boosts AFib outcomes, new meta-analysis confirms

Ablation was associated with a 67% reduction in all-cause hospitalizations compared to medication alone.

August 18, 2021

overnight night shift attending radiologist burnout

Lifetime of night shift work associated with higher AFib risk

The team hopes its findings, published in the European Heart Journal, will help more people consider how their daily lives can affect their health.

August 17, 2021

Abbott’s LAA closure solution for AFib patients gains FDA approval

The device has already been approved in other parts of the world, including Europe.

August 16, 2021

FDA announces recall of 48,000 Boston Scientific pacemakers, CRT-Ps

This is a Class I recall, which means the issue can lead to serious injury or death.

August 6, 2021

Heart Rhythm

Johnson & Johnson pauses use of FDA-approved PFA system to investigate patient complications

History made: Young child treated with new heart device for very first time

ACC offers practical approaches for arrhythmia monitoring after stroke

FDA announces recall of cryoablation catheters after multiple injuries, including 4 deaths

Cardiologists perform world’s first leadless LBBAP procedures with Abbott pacemaker