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.

What new research tells us about catheter ablation and atrial fibrillation

Treating atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with catheter ablation is associated with a decreased risk of mortality, heart failure admission and stroke, according to new findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

June 3, 2020

For high-risk AF patients, NOACs outperform warfarin

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are a valuable treatment option for atrial fibrillation patients with a prior intracranial hemorrhage, according to new findings published in JAMA Network Open.

June 1, 2020

4 cardiac arrhythmias associated with COVID-19

The association between COVID-19 and cardiac arrhythmias is significant, especially when patients are hit hard by the disease and moved to the ICU.

May 29, 2020

Hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin linked to “potentially lethal” cardiovascular complications

Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are both associated with significant cardiovascular complications, and taking them together could be a deadly combination, according to new research published in Circulation.

May 26, 2020

‘Do-not-resuscitate’ orders for COVID-19 patients?

New findings highlight why a blanket “do-not-resuscitate” order for COVID-19 patients is not needed.

May 22, 2020

President Trump says he is taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID-19 infection

The news came just weeks after the FDA warned against treating COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine “outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial” due to significant cardiovascular complications.

May 19, 2020

SCAI shares thorough guidance on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

The Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has shared a new guidance detailing the management of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

May 15, 2020

AI model reduces false-positive findings detected by implantable loop recorders

An AI algorithm could limit false-positive AFib episodes detected by implantable loop recorders (ILRs), according to new research presented during the 2020 Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions.

May 15, 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