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.

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.
President of medical device company resigns over conduct allegations after 7 months in role
Joseph C. Wright, a longtime Merit Medical employee, resigned after unspecified allegations regarding his conduct were brought to light. He was named the company's new president back in May.

Big Ten, Pac-12 cancel 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19, myocarditis

At this rate, will there be a 2020 college football season at all?

August 11, 2020

New 4D imaging technique could improve cardiac arrest outcomes

The team was able to generate 4D models that show exactly what occurs to a person’s heart during CPR, converting multiple 3D images into movie-like sequences.

August 6, 2020

Alien DNA, retractions, whistleblowers and more: The wild saga of hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19 continues

Hydroxychloroquine was once just an ordinary antimalarial medication—and then 2020 and COVID-19 happened. So how did we get here?

July 29, 2020

MLB player’s myocarditis puts spotlight on potential cardiovascular complications of COVID-19

The news comes just days after Major League Baseball began its pandemic-shortened season.

July 27, 2020

What cardiologists know, and don’t know, about genetic testing for heart disease

Such testing typically makes the most sense when patients have a confirmed diagnosis of an inherited cardiovascular disease or an abnormality has already been identified.

July 23, 2020

Meet ELVIS, the holographic display that improves cardiologist accuracy

ELVIS, it seems, has entered the operating room.

July 22, 2020

AI, imaging help clinicians predict cardiac death in heart failure patients

New research out of Japan could help at-risk patients receive the care they need as soon as possible.

July 17, 2020

Medtronic’s new ICM gains FDA clearance, CE mark approval

The device is roughly one-third the size of a AAA battery.

July 13, 2020

Heart Rhythm

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

President of medical device company resigns over conduct allegations after 7 months in role