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.

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib
Research that followed patients for more than 13 years suggests increases in ECG PR interval, P‐wave duration and PTFV1 are associated with increased AFib risk in this cohort.
New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic
The study's authors questioned if these patients should even be given oral anticoagulation as currently recommended.
Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential
More research is still required, but Field Medical's FieldForce Ablation System may represent a significant step forward in the treatment of scar-related ventricular tachycardia.
Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system
Stereotaxis and CardioFocus are collaborating on a new robotic pulsed field ablation system. After completing some initial research, the companies are now working toward the launch of a clinical trial.
Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation
Peter Weiss, MD, a veteran electrophysiologist, sat down with Cardiovascular Business to discuss the ongoing rise of pulsed field ablation. While he's impressed with the technology, he says many questions remain about its long-term value.

Fish oil and vitamin D supplements don’t prevent atrial fibrillation

Both supplements are still perfectly safe for patients to take for other reasons, researchers emphasized.

COVID-19 patients with abnormal heart rhythms face a greater risk of death

"Patients and physicians need to monitor for these arrhythmias closely and treatments needs to be timely," one researcher warned.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Heart Rhythm

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib

New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic

Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential

Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system

Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation