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 wealthier countries often have higher AFib death rates

The study, published in European Heart Journal, included decades of data from 20 different countries.

February 2, 2021

Medtronic’s new AFib ablation system gains FDA approval

The system sends real-time feedback to healthcare providers during the treatment process.

February 1, 2021

Confirmed: AFib patients with COVID-19 face a greater risk of death

The meta-analysis included data from 23 different studies.

January 28, 2021

American Heart Association explores close ties between mental, cardiovascular health

Depression, chronic stress, anxiety and anger are all associated with a heightened risk of heart rhythm irregularities, stroke and other serious cardiovascular conditions.

January 26, 2021

Male breast cancer patients face a heightened risk of cardiovascular issues

The new findings are part of a virtual conference being hosted by the American College of Cardiology.

January 25, 2021

AFib ablation is effective for HCM patients, leading to long-term rhythm control

Overall, 60% of patients demonstrated complete freedom from recurrences of atrial fibrillation or atrial tachycardias.

January 25, 2021

Nighttime cardiac arrest, a ‘perplexing and devastating phenomenon,’ more common among women

Physicians may want to think twice before prescribing certain medications, including drugs for pain or depression, to some female patients, the authors observed.

January 21, 2021

Alcohol consumption, even just a daily glass of wine, leads to a heightened risk of AFib

Researchers tracked data from more than 107,000 patients, completing what is believed to be the largest study of its kind.

January 13, 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