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.

Warfarin use boosts risk of hemorrhagic stroke among end-stage kidney patients with AFib

Warfarin use does not reduce the risk of stroke for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with AFib, according to a new meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open. It does, however, lead to an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

April 8, 2020

Hospital testing hydroxychloroquine on coronavirus patients notes serious side effects

A French hospital testing the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 patients had to immediately stop testing on one patient due to the risk of significant cardiac side effects.

April 8, 2020

Can smartphones diagnose AFib?

Smartphone cameras could play an important role in the diagnosis of AFib, according to new findings published in JAMA Network Open.

April 6, 2020

For TAVR patients with AFib, antiplatelet medication linked to poorer outcomes

Oral anticoagulation medication can help minimize bleeding complications among AFib patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), according to new research out of Europe.

March 30, 2020

Nearly half of all serious cardiac events among pregnant women with heart disease are preventable

A significant number of life-threatening complications in pregnant women with heart disease could be prevented altogether, according to new findings published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

March 26, 2020

E-cigarette interferes with user’s implantable cardiac device, creating potential for ‘fatal consequences’

A patient’s e-cigarette interfered with their implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and prevented the device from properly functioning, according to a new analysis published in HeartRhythm Case Reports.

March 17, 2020

How one hospital is perfecting mechanical CPR in the ED

On a biweekly basis, researchers and physicians at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and North Shore University Hospital in New York gather to watch footage of patient resuscitations.

March 11, 2020

Many older AFib patients prescribed inappropriately dosed DOACs

Nearly a quarter of older patients with atrial fibrillation receive inappropriately dosed direct-acting oral anticoagulants, according to an analysis of the ongoing SAGE-AF study.

March 9, 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