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.

Long-term anticoagulation a safe treatment option for elderly AFib patients

Long-term anticoagulation can be recommended for AFib patients 90 years old and older, according to new research.

November 11, 2020

Newest hydroxychloroquine data ‘do not support’ use as COVID-19 treatment

This latest analysis compared the outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and those who received a placebo.

November 9, 2020

Cardiac resynchronization therapy benefits patients with severe LV dysfunction

No procedure-related deaths were reported, and an absolute LVEF improvement of more than 5% was present in nearly 49% of patients.

November 5, 2020

New-look implantable device can identify, treat heart disease

The patch harvests energy from each heartbeat, allowing it to operate with no external power source.

November 4, 2020

Obese men with type 2 diabetes face an increased risk of AFib

These findings are especially important, the authors wrote, because they suggest there may be a new way to personalize patient care.

November 4, 2020

Catheter ablation improves LVEF, boosts survival for heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation

Catheter ablation was consistently linked to more substantial LVEF improvements than pharmacological therapy.

October 23, 2020

New ablation technique for atrial fibrillation proven safe and effective in first-in-human study

Irreversible electroporation, the authors noted, could help clinicians avoid the drawbacks of thermal ablation

October 21, 2020

Bigger babies may face a higher risk of atrial fibrillation as adults

The eye-opening findings were presented during the Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology 2020 virtual meeting.

October 19, 2020

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