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.

Cardiologist may have just saved the 2020 college football season

Michael Ackerman, MD, PhD, spoke to Big 12 representatives at length about COVID-19, myocarditis and how playing games may impact the safety of college athletes.

Many cardiac arrest deaths actually the result of an overdose

The team behind the analysis explored autopsies, toxicology reports, medication lists and prior health records for its research.

Atrial fibrillation outcomes have improved, but more work is still necessary to ‘stem the epidemic’

Researchers explored 43 years of data from the Framingham Heart Study.

Big Ten, Pac-12 cancel 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19, myocarditis

At this rate, will there be a 2020 college football season at all?

New 4D imaging technique could improve cardiac arrest outcomes

The team was able to generate 4D models that show exactly what occurs to a person’s heart during CPR, converting multiple 3D images into movie-like sequences.

Alien DNA, retractions, whistleblowers and more: The wild saga of hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19 continues

Hydroxychloroquine was once just an ordinary antimalarial medication—and then 2020 and COVID-19 happened. So how did we get here?

MLB player’s myocarditis puts spotlight on potential cardiovascular complications of COVID-19

The news comes just days after Major League Baseball began its pandemic-shortened season.

What cardiologists know, and don’t know, about genetic testing for heart disease

Such testing typically makes the most sense when patients have a confirmed diagnosis of an inherited cardiovascular disease or an abnormality has already been identified.

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