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.

Large peridevice leaks after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) are incredibly rare and not associated with a greater risk of adverse outcomes, according to new research published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.[1] Smaller residual links are more common, however, and associated with a risk of thromboembolic and bleeding events.

What peridevice leaks after LAAO mean for patient health

The study's authors reviewed data from more than 50,000 patients, presenting their findings in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

June 20, 2022
Marijuana use among older adults is associated with a heightened risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, according to new research published in the American Journal of Cardiology. “Marijuana use increases sympathetic nervous system activity and inhibits cardiac parasympathetic innervation, resulting in elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and an increase in myocardial oxygen demand.

Marijuana use linked to heart rhythm issues in older adults

Former users, however, do not seem to face the same risks as current users. 

June 20, 2022
Elderly patient doctor. Despite an expanded indication from the FDA and lower prices, patient access to these cholesterol-lowering medications remains a significant issue.

NOACs comparable to warfarin when treating AFib patients with valvular heart disease

Researchers examined the clinical impact of treating valvular AFib with dabigatran instead of warfarin. 

June 15, 2022
inHEART Medical, an international healthcare company with offices in France and the United States, has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new 3D visualization software designed to improve the management of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation and other cardiac ablation procedures.

3D cardiac modeling solution for VT ablation receives FDA clearance

The new software solution was designed with ventricular tachycardia ablation and other cardiac ablation procedures in mind.

May 24, 2022

Left bundle branch block after TAVR hurts outcomes, even when no permanent pacemaker is required

Researchers tracked data from more than 2,000 TAVR patients, focusing on cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure. 

May 23, 2022
Boston Scientific’s EMBOLD Fibered Detachable Coil.

Regulatory roundup: FDA clears new solutions from Boston Scientific, CathVision, Franklin Mountain Medical

It has been a busy few weeks for the FDA, with plenty of big-name approvals and recalls making the news, but there have also been some other big announcements related to solutions receiving FDA clearance. 

May 4, 2022
The Boston Scientific Watchman device is a transcatheter device implanted in the left atrial appendage (LAA) to seal it off so atrial fibrillation patients can got off of anticoagulant therapy.

Real-world Watchman patients experiencing fewer complications after LAAO than seen in clinical trials

The study's authors compared findings from the PROTECT-AF and PREVAIL clinical trials with data from the NCDR LAAO Registry, focusing on short-term and long-term outcomes. 

May 3, 2022
Brugada arrhythmogenic substrate that causes VT and sudden cardiac death. This study showed ablation of this substrate area could help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in these patients.

Epicardial ablation in Brugada syndrome reduces sudden cardiac death

A late-breaking study at Heart Rhythm 2022 found epicardial ablation in Brugada syndrome helped significantly reduce sudden cardiac arrest in these patients, increasing their survival.

May 3, 2022

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