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.

2 out of 5 AFib patients develop heart failure later in life
Stroke is typically seen as the biggest danger for patients after they receive an AFib diagnosis. This study, however, suggests heart failure could be an even bigger threat.
FDA grants fast track designation to new drug for Friedreich's ataxia cardiomyopathy
The new gene therapy candidate is now one step closer to being approved by the FDA.
FDA grants anticoagulant its orphan drug designation for treating patients with implanted devices
The anticoagulant was originally developed for patients with end-stage renal disease and atrial fibrillation.
Biosense Webster takes key step toward FDA approval for Varipulse PFA system
The company already received CE mark approval for its new PFA offering and hopes it will soon be approved for sale in the United States.
Cardiologists are first in world to remove unstable Watchman devices with FDA-cleared retrieval system
A team of specialists in Houston made history, using the new-look device to treat three patients over the age of 80. The group shared its experience in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

older patient with a doctor at their house

Learning more about AFib: 19 important topics for cardiologists, other heart specialists to investigate

New AFib recommendations from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association covered significant ground—but there is still much more to learn, experts explained.

December 4, 2023

2024 has been a banner year for structural heart treatments, especially those focused on the tricuspid valve. In February, for example, Edwards Lifesciences made history when its Evoque transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) system became the first device of its kind to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Two months later, Abbott’s TriClip transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system also gained FDA approval for the treatment of TR.

New AFib guidelines include higher recommendations for catheter ablation, LAAO

Cardiologists, electrophysiologists, surgeons and patient representatives all worked together on the updated guidelines, which were published in both the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation.

December 1, 2023

Tiny fragments of plastic are commonly found deep inside the human body. Heart surgery, it seems, is one of many ways these microplastics are reaching their destination. Surgeons Operating On Patient

‘We should halt this practice’: Common hormone treatment for donated hearts may be harmful

"This practice has been adopted by multiple organ-procurement organizations and is used on thousands of organ donors each year, without ever having been rigorously studied," one researcher said.

November 30, 2023

Johnson & Johnson acquires medical device company behind new LAA technology for $400M

The deal could also include additional clinical and regulatory milestone payments in the years ahead.

November 30, 2023

Medtronic Penditure Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Exclusion System

Medtronic debuts new FDA-cleared LAA exclusion device

Medtronic acquired the technology behind the new device back in August.

November 27, 2023

Bayer ends blood thinner trial early due to lack of efficacy

The Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended Bayer stop the trial due to the drug's poor performance compared to apixaban.

November 22, 2023

Medtronic's PulseSelect Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System

Medtronic gains 2 key approvals for its ablation portfolio

The company had good news to share about its highly anticipated PFA offering.

November 21, 2023

AI cardiology heart artificial intelligence deep learning

The future of cardiology: 5 potentially game-changing AI studies from AHA 2023

AI was one of the biggest stories at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023 conference in Philadelphia. Researchers presented new data about heart attack care, voice recognition algorithms, digital stethoscopes and more.

November 13, 2023

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New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

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What does radiology have to do with climate change?

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Heart Rhythm

2 out of 5 AFib patients develop heart failure later in life

FDA grants fast track designation to new drug for Friedreich's ataxia cardiomyopathy

FDA grants anticoagulant its orphan drug designation for treating patients with implanted devices

Biosense Webster takes key step toward FDA approval for Varipulse PFA system

Cardiologists are first in world to remove unstable Watchman devices with FDA-cleared retrieval system

Around the web