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.

Illustration of a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure using a Watchman device. Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine. #LAA #LAAO

ICE-guided Watchman procedures linked to safety concerns—is TEE better for LAAO or will things improve?

TEE and ICE are each associated with certain advantages and disadvantages, researchers explained. The new analysis included data from nearly 40,000 patients.

January 19, 2024
A gavel and a stethoscope

Woman files lawsuit claiming Panera’s highly caffeinated beverages gave her heart issues

The 28-year-old woman says she drank two and a half Charged Lemonade drinks and was in the emergency room the very next day. According to her lawsuit, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and is now taking daily heart medications. 

January 18, 2024
money business cash flow dollar. Kingsway Financial Services, a Chicago-based holding company with subsidiaries in several industries, has acquired New Jersey-based Digital Diagnostics Imaging (DDI) for $11 million. The transaction was funded with $5.4 million in cash and $5.6 million in debt financing.

Integer acquires medical device specialists with experience in structural heart, electrophysiology for $140M

Integer's estimated 2023 sales nearly reached $1.6 billion, up 16% compared to 2022. According to the company's statement, this acquisition helps expand its footprint in several key markets. 

January 17, 2024
Eric Puroll, a project manager with the My Heart Your Heart program, examines donated pacemakers. For several years now, cardiologists, electrophysiologists and other heart specialists with the Frankel Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan (UM) have been working to get reconditioned pacemakers in the hands of patients who may not be able to afford a brand new device through the My Heart Your Heart program. Donated pacemakers are accepted if they have four years of battery life remaining.

Cardiologists give recycled pacemakers to heart patients in need

When patients with pacemakers die, what happens to the device? Typically, it ends up being discarded and forgotten—they were designed to be single-use devices, after all—but that does not have to be the case.

January 16, 2024
Bruce Wilkoff, MD, a veteran cardiologist with Cleveland Clinic

Cardiologist Bruce Wilkoff remembered as a ‘pioneer’ of electrophysiology, ‘beacon of medical excellence’

Friends, colleagues and professional societies have all shared loving tributes to the veteran electrophysiologist, who died at the age of 69. 

January 12, 2024
cardiologist preparing to perform radiofrequency ablation

Colchicine after AFib ablation fails to reduce risk of arrhythmia recurrence

However, the popular anti-inflammatory drug was linked to at least one other clinical benefit cardiologists should know about. 

January 12, 2024
Anne Kroman, DO, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina, discusses trends in EP device lead management.

Why long-term EP lead management is as important as ever

Anne Kroman, DO, PhD, noted that early, aggressive treatment is critical when EP leads need to be removed. 

January 10, 2024
The Medtronic Micra leadless pacemaker implanted inside the heart. It is about the size of a large vitamin pill and is implanted using a catheter.

Medtronic receives CE mark approval for next-generation leadless pacemakers

The two devices, already approved by the FDA, were designed with batteries expected to last more than 15 years. 

January 5, 2024

Around the web

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

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."

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