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.

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

Same-day discharge after LAAO associated with strong outcomes, significant cost savings

A new analysis found that 30-day outcomes do not significantly change when LAAO patients go home the same day as their procedure. 

April 28, 2022
Using drones to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is an effective way to reach patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), according to a new analysis published in European Heart Journal.

Drones deliver AEDs to patients with suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Researchers in Sweden deployed drones during real-life emergencies, noting that the drone often arrived to the patient's location ahead of an ambulance. 

April 26, 2022
Fitbit’s new algorithm for identifying signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) has been cleared by the FDA. The photoplethysmography (PPG) algorithm was designed to passively evaluate a user’s heart rhythm while they are still or sleeping.

Fitbit’s latest AFib algorithm receives FDA clearance, will be available ‘soon’

The new algorithm was designed to evaluate a user's heart rhythm while they are still or even sleeping. 

April 12, 2022
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and its associated leads viewed on a X-ray. Old leads are often abandon in veins and new ones added, but a new study of 1 million patients at ACC22 showed there is higher mortality if a device becomes infected and the leads are left behind. Image from RSNA.

VIDEO: Lowering mortality rates from infected EP implantable cardiac devices

Sean Pokorney, MD, director of the arrhythmia core lab, Duke Clinical Research Institute, assistant professor of Medicine, Duke University, discusses a late-breaking ACC 2022 study that shows mortality is higher in patients with implantable electrophysiology (EP) device infections where the leads are not explanted.

April 11, 2022
Fitbit Afib app wearable

Smartwatch app accurately detects atrial fibrillation in large Chinese study

A Chinese study of 2.8 million participants found that 94% of users flagged for AFib indeed have the heart rhythm disorder.

April 11, 2022
Abbott’s Aveir single-chamber (VR) leadless pacemaker FDA approval for treating patients with bradycardia. Image courtesy of Abbott.

Abbott’s single-chamber leadless pacemaker gains FDA approval

Another single-chamber leadless pacemaker has officially hit the market. 

April 5, 2022
Use of augmented reality and virtual reality to aid procedures and enhance clinician training is expected to see increasing use in the coming years in cardiology. Photo from Philips healthcare

VIDEO: 4 predictions on key cardiac technologies for the coming years

Mass General cardiologist and Harvard professor Ami Bhatt, MD, predicts upcoming paradigm shifts in cardiology over the next decade. 

March 24, 2022

DOACs may reduce the risk of dementia among AFib patients by 50%

Nearly 19,000 patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation were included in the team's analysis. 

March 22, 2022
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