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.

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib
Research that followed patients for more than 13 years suggests increases in ECG PR interval, P‐wave duration and PTFV1 are associated with increased AFib risk in this cohort.
New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic
The study's authors questioned if these patients should even be given oral anticoagulation as currently recommended.
Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential
More research is still required, but Field Medical's FieldForce Ablation System may represent a significant step forward in the treatment of scar-related ventricular tachycardia.
Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system
Stereotaxis and CardioFocus are collaborating on a new robotic pulsed field ablation system. After completing some initial research, the companies are now working toward the launch of a clinical trial.
Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation
Peter Weiss, MD, a veteran electrophysiologist, sat down with Cardiovascular Business to discuss the ongoing rise of pulsed field ablation. While he's impressed with the technology, he says many questions remain about its long-term value.

FDA highlights safety issue with leadless pacemakers, focusing on Medtronic’s Micra

All pacemakers are associated with a risk of cardiac perforation, the agency said, but perforation-related complications appear to be more severe with leadless pacing systems.

Text message alert system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests yields positive outcomes

Even though automated external defibrillators are available in public places, most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home.

New research details how drug and alcohol use increases a person's AFib risk

The findings, to be presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2021, focused on methamphetamines, opiates, cocaine, cannabis and alcohol.

'Remarkable' new findings suggest patients with diabetes should be screened for AFib

Patients who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it seems, are much less likely to notice symptoms related to an irregular heartbeat.

Combined genetic testing for cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias yields positive results

The new findings come from research to be presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2021.

Early epinephrine treatment during cardiac arrest increases chance of a good recovery

Patients who received epinephrine within four minutes after the first shock from an AED had a better chance of recovery.

Some cancer immunotherapies may increase the risk of myocarditis

The study's authors tracked data from facilities in 11 different countries, examining imaging findings from patients with ICI-related myocarditis.

Tracking false-positive alerts among cardiac patients

“The findings of this study highlight the need for strategies to reduce and manage the burden of false-positive ILR alerts,” the researchers said.

Heart Rhythm

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib

New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic

Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential

Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system

Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation