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.

Heart Rhythm Society legislative advocacy group raising funds for electrophysiology
This week, Heart Rhythm Advocates announced its establishment and called on cardiologists and EPs to support its efforts with membership and joining committees to guide efforts.
FDA chooses not to approve new nasal spray for heart rhythm issues
Etripamil's journey toward FDA approval hit a roadblock. The agency requested additional information on the drug, including a new facility inspection, in a response letter sent to Milestone Pharmaceuticals.
Abbott gains CE mark approval for Volt PFA system
The approval, which Abbott said arrived earlier than expected, came after regulators reviewed data from a 2024 clinical trial.
Enabling X-ray-free ablation procedures in the EP lab
Exposure to scatter radiation and orthopedic issues related to years of wearing lead aprons during long EP procedures has led electrophysiologists to seek out new ways to reduce the need for angiographic X-ray.
The evolution of RF technology to reduce complications and improve outcomes
Advancements in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation technology have been incremental over the past 30 years in efforts to improve safety, procedural efficiency and patient outcomes. While some newer technologies have gained a lot of attention in electrophysiology (EP) over the past several years, RF remains the solid frontline treatment.

FitBit data reveal major differences in average resting HR

A recent analysis of FitBit data suggests there is no one “normal” resting heart rate for humans, with users’ average HR coming in at between 40 and 109 beats per minute, Discover Magazine reported.

Medtronic receives CE mark approval for next-gen ICDs, CRT-Ds

Medtronic has received CE mark approval in the European Union for its Cobalt and Crome implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillators.

Experts dispute 9 of 17 genes once linked to long QT syndrome

A panel of experts from the Clinical Genome Resource are publicly disputing nine of 17 genes once thought to be linked to long QT syndrome.

AI to help ID cardiac arrest from emergency phone calls

Emergency phone operators in Victoria, Australia, may soon have access to AI that could alert them to callers in cardiac arrest, ZDNet reports.

FDA OKs study of tech that uses pulsed electric fields to treat AFib

The FDA has approved a Medtronic-run trial, PULSED AF, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new tech that uses pulsed electric fields to treat AFib.

Burnout boosts likelihood of atrial fibrillation

Burnout may increase a person’s risk of developing atrial fibrillation by as much as 20%, researchers reported this month in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

FDA approves world’s smallest pacemaker with AV synchrony

Medtronic announced Jan. 21 it had received FDA approval for its Micra AV device—the world’s smallest pacemaker with atrioventricular synchrony.

Mechanical hyperventilation could streamline cardiac ablation

A medical technique that involves safely hyperventilating conscious, unmedicated patients could facilitate the use of radiotherapy for cardiac ablation, according to research published in Frontiers in Physiology.

Heart Rhythm

Heart Rhythm Society legislative advocacy group raising funds for electrophysiology

FDA chooses not to approve new nasal spray for heart rhythm issues

Abbott gains CE mark approval for Volt PFA system

Enabling X-ray-free ablation procedures in the EP lab

The evolution of RF technology to reduce complications and improve outcomes