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.

FDA announces recall of cryoablation catheters after multiple injuries, including 4 deaths
Boston Scientific is recalling the catheters associated with its POLARx Cryoablation System due to a heightened risk of esophageal injury. The FDA has ruled that this a Class I recall.
Cardiologists perform world’s first leadless LBBAP procedures with Abbott pacemaker
The first-in-human procedures were performed in Prague with the investigational Aveir CSP leadless pacemaker system.
President of medical device company resigns over conduct allegations after 7 months in role
Joseph C. Wright, a longtime Merit Medical employee, resigned after unspecified allegations regarding his conduct were brought to light. He was named the company's new president back in May.
FDA and Boston Scientific issue urgent alert about pacemaker failures following 2 deaths
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the recall notice for more than 200,000 pacemakers because a battery issue could lock the device in safe mode.
Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks
While the technology and techniques associated with TAVR have advanced over the years, treating patients who present with baseline atrial fibrillation is still associated with certain risks.

Long-term rate of transvenous lead complications ‘disappointing,’ researchers say

One-fourth of transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads has a mechanical complication within 10 years, according to an insurance database analysis published May 10 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

May 18, 2018

Paroxysmal AFib burden linked to higher stroke risk

Even for patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation (AFib), the amount of time spent in an arrhythmic state is strongly associated with an increased risk of stroke, researchers reported in JAMA Cardiology.

May 17, 2018

His bundle pacing trumps right ventricular approach in single-center study

A His bundle pacing (HBP) strategy was associated with a significant reduction in hospitalizations for heart failure when compared to pacemaker implantation via the right ventricle, according to a study published online May 14 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

May 16, 2018

Ablation of AFib likely to occur later, be less successful in women

Women who received catheter ablation in the FIRE AND ICE trial were 37 percent more likely than men to have a recurrence of atrial arrhythmia and 36 percent more likely to be rehospitalized for cardiovascular causes, according to an analysis published April 26 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.

May 16, 2018

Watchman thrombi occur in 3.7% of implants, heighten stroke risk

Watchman-related thrombi developed in 3.7 percent of patients who were implanted with the device, resulting in a threefold risk of stroke or systemic embolism, according to a meta-analysis of clinical trials and registries published online May 11 in Circulation.

May 15, 2018

Medtronic shows feasibility of extravascular ICD; in-human study next

A novel device placed under the sternum outside of the heart and veins has the potential to deliver pacing and defibrillation therapy, according to a feasibility study presented at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual scientific sessions.

May 14, 2018

Sensing filter cuts inappropriate shocks for S-ICDs by more than 50%

A sensing filter added to Boston Scientific’s Emblem subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) more than halved the number of inappropriate shocks given to patients over a one-year period, according to a real-world European study presented May 11 at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual scientific sessions in Boston.

May 14, 2018

New Study Demonstrates Feasibility of Novel Mechanical Sensor in Medtronic Micra Transcatheter Pacing System to Detect Atrial Contractions and Restore AV Synchrony

DUBLIN and BOSTON — May 11, 2018 — Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) today announced new clinical study results demonstrating that an investigational algorithm, utilizing the accelerometer signal in the Micra(TM) Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) may restore AV synchrony, improving cardiac function in patients with sinus rhythm and atrioventricular (AV) block.

May 14, 2018

Heart Rhythm

FDA announces recall of cryoablation catheters after multiple injuries, including 4 deaths

Cardiologists perform world’s first leadless LBBAP procedures with Abbott pacemaker

President of medical device company resigns over conduct allegations after 7 months in role

FDA and Boston Scientific issue urgent alert about pacemaker failures following 2 deaths

Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks