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.

Slow heart rates reported in COVID-19 patients treated with lopinavir, ritonavir

Treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with a combination of lopinavir (LPV) and ritonavir (RTV) is associated with a significant risk of bradycardia, according to new research out of France.

July 9, 2020

Abbott’s line of next-generation heart rhythm devices gains FDA approval

The devices offer numerous new features, including an improved battery, MRI compatibility and Bluetooth connectivity.

July 6, 2020

Cloud-based imaging spinoff inHeart raises $4.2M for AI-based heart arrhythmia solution

It’s cloud software turns preoperative medical images into a 3D “digital twin” of the patient’s heart enabling providers to plan procedures and navigate instruments during surgery.

July 2, 2020

Study shows COVID-19 can infect heart cells—and do serious damage in the process

COVID-19 has the potential to infect cardiac cells, causing changes in their ability to function after just 72 hours.

July 1, 2020

Cardiologists shed new light on COVID-19 and cardiac arrhythmias

A higher rate of cardiac arrhythmias has been observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but new research suggests there’s more behind that trend than the virus itself.

June 23, 2020

Azithromycin associated with greater risk of cardiovascular death, but not sudden cardiac death

Outpatient prescriptions for azithromycin are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.

June 17, 2020

Dexamethasone improves outcomes for critically ill COVID-19 patients

Why dexamethasone could be a legitimate game-changer in the fight against COVID-19—and an update on the FDA and hydroxychloroquine.

June 17, 2020

Cardiologist makes history, performs first cardioneural ablation in US

A cardiologist at the University of Chicago Medicine has performed the first cardioneural ablation in U.S. history, using it to “rewire” the heart of a patient suffering from vasovagal syncope.

June 12, 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