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.

President Trump says he is taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID-19 infection

The news came just weeks after the FDA warned against treating COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine “outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial” due to significant cardiovascular complications.

SCAI shares thorough guidance on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

The Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has shared a new guidance detailing the management of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

AI model reduces false-positive findings detected by implantable loop recorders

An AI algorithm could limit false-positive AFib episodes detected by implantable loop recorders (ILRs), according to new research presented during the 2020 Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions.

PRECEPT study finds contact force-sensing catheters safe for treating persistent AFib

The findings were originally scheduled to be presented at the Heart Rhythm Society’s 2020 Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions.

Latest study suggests hydroxychloroquine makes minimal impact as COVID-19 treatment

The potential use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 has been one of the biggest stories of the current pandemic.

No increased risk of infection with recycled pacemakers and defibrillators

Researchers studied data from 1,051 patients who received resterilized pacemakers and defibrillators, sharing their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A potential risk: New studies highlight the connection between treating COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine and QTc prolongation

Treating COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with azithromycin, is associated with an increased risk of QTc prolongation, according to two new studies published in JAMA Cardiology.

Novartis launches FDA-approved study involving hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, COVID-19 patients

Novartis is launching a new clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine.

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