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.

Airplane

Lawsuit blames teen’s death during flight on defibrillator issue, lack of training

A teenager went into cardiac arrest on an American Airlines flight from Honduras to Miami. He never recovered, and now his family has filed a new lawsuit that blames the airline.

March 20, 2023
a patient talks with her doctor, both are women of color

Estrogen may be linked to heart rhythm issues

A new experimental study focused on how different sex hormones can affect the heart's ability to properly pump blood. Estradiol, the most active form of estrogen, stood out as a hormone that requires additional research.

March 17, 2023
Sphere-9 mapping and ablation catheter

Medtronic gains key approval for new mapping and ablation system

Medtronic acquired the technology in a 2022 deal reportedly worth $925 million.

March 16, 2023
cardiologist patient heart compensation starting salary 2022 interventional cardiologist

Pulsed-field ablation for AFib not linked to any signs of bronchial damage

As this new ablation technique continues to gain momentum, researchers are hoping to learn as much as possible about any potential side effects. 

March 14, 2023
B. Hadley Wilson, ACC President ACC.23

New American College of Cardiology President B. Hadley Wilson shares his goals for the future

The veteran interventional cardiologist told Cardiovascular Business he sees potential in the ACC's ability to grow both nationally and internationally in the next year. 

March 7, 2023
Atul Verma, MD, head of cardiology at McGill University Health Centre

Day 3 at ACC.23 features late-breaking studies on pulsed-field ablation, other new technologies

The third and final day of ACC.23 featured a key update on Medtronic's pulsed-field ablation technology and many other late-breaking clinical studies. 

March 6, 2023

Low BMI increases risk of cardiac tamponade during AFib ablation

Also, researchers noted, cryoballoon ablation was linked to a lower risk of cardiac tamponade than radiofrequency ablation. The study included data from nearly 60,000 hospitalizations.

March 3, 2023
A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare. Sex differences in TAVR one-year mortality.

10 reasons heart teams may consider SAVR over TAVR when treating aortic stenosis

As much as TAVR's popularity has grown in recent years, there are still many instances when a heart team may find that surgery offers the best path forward. 

March 2, 2023

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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