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.

New ablation technique for atrial fibrillation proven safe and effective in first-in-human study

Irreversible electroporation, the authors noted, could help clinicians avoid the drawbacks of thermal ablation

Bigger babies may face a higher risk of atrial fibrillation as adults

The eye-opening findings were presented during the Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology 2020 virtual meeting.

These type 2 diabetes medications reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation

“These observations might have direct treatment implications," researchers wrote.

Hydroxychloroquine linked to reducing ICU admissions among hospitalized COVID-19 patients by 53%

Chloroquine, however, was not found to have such an effect.

Supplements containing cesium chloride linked to heart toxicity, cardiac arrest, arrhythmias and death, FDA warns

Five companies received warnings from the FDA for illegally selling supplements containing cesium chloride.

Hydroxychloroquine ‘not an effective treatment’ for COVID-19, leads to longer hospital stays

The study's authors explored data from more than 1,500 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and more than 3,000 who received usual care.

How treating AFib with catheter ablation affects patients with heart failure

One key finding reported by the research team was a substantial decrease in AFib readmissions.

Outcomes are grim when COVID-19 patients receive CPR for in-hospital cardiac arrest

Researchers explored data from more than 1,300 COVID-19 patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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