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.

Thermedical SERF thermal ablation system for VT.

FDA approves trial for new type of thermal-ablation system to treat ventricular arrhythmias

The FDA has approved a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new type of ablation catheter for patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) resistant to conventional anti-arrhythmic drugs or standard ablation procedures.

September 9, 2022
Watchman FLX left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)

Boston Scientific gains a new FDA approval for Watchman FLX LAAC device

The company can now update its labeling instructions for the device to include a new 45-day dual anti-platelet therapy treatment option when treating non-valvular atrial fibrillation. 

September 7, 2022

New expert guidelines highlight the importance of quickly diagnosing and treating CIED infections

Though removal of the affected CIED is typically the smartest treatment option—and one supported by specialty groups all over the world—a majority of patients keep living with the device, often resulting in hospitalization or even death.

September 1, 2022
Affera Inc Medtronic $925 million catheter ablation atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Medtronic completes acquisition of heart rhythm tech company in a deal reportedly worth $925M

Affera’s portfolio includes interventional solutions such as the Affera Prism-1 mapping and navigation platform, designed to help electrophysiologists diagnose heart rhythm issues, and the Sphere-9 cardiac ablation catheter. 

August 31, 2022
Christine Albert, MD, MPH, cardiology chair for the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Rethinking arrhythmias: Women may face a higher AFib risk than men

New research, published in JAMA Cardiology, challenges the common belief that AFib is more likely to develop among men than women. The key problem, it seems, is that prior research teams did not understand the significance of certain risk factors.

August 31, 2022
Medtronic shared some good news with attendees at ESC Congress 2022 in Barcelona, the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, noting that its Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (EV ICD) system met its safety endpoints in a global clinical trial. Medtronic EV ICD clinical trial safety endpoints ESC Congress 2022 #ESC #ESC2022 #ESC22

Medtronic’s first-of-its-kind ICD meets safety endpoints in global clinical trial

The promising results were presented at ESC Congress 2022 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Medtronic's new-look device is not yet approved for sale or distribution. 

August 29, 2022
ESC Congress 2022 European Society of Cardiology. 6 key sessions from ESC Congress 2022: TAVR mortality, AI vs. sonographers, radial vs. femoral access and more

6 key sessions from ESC Congress 2022: TAVR mortality, AI vs. sonographers, radial vs. femoral access and more

ESC Congress 2022, the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, was jam-packed with eye-opening new research from many of the leading voices in cardiovascular and vascular medicine. These six sessions were just some of the weekend's many highlights. 

August 29, 2022
Treating elderly atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients—even those who are traditionally ineligible for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)—with a very low dose of edoxaban is associated with improved outcomes, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.

Very low doses of edoxaban are safe and effective for frail, elderly AFib patients

Elderly patients are often not eligible for oral anticoagulant therapy due to the risk of bleeding events or other adverse outcomes. A very low dose of edoxaban, however, appears to be a safe treatment option, even for especially frail patients.

August 26, 2022

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."

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup