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.

eCardio announces the appointment of John H. Untereker as its president

eCardio Diagnostics, a leader in remote arrhythmia monitoring services, has promoted John H. Untereker to President, effective immediately. He will remain COO.

August 2, 2013

Boston Scientific receives FDA 510(k) clearance for the Rhythmia™ Mapping System

Boston Scientific Corporation has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the Rhythmia™ Mapping System, a next-generation 3D mapping and navigation solution for use in cardiac catheter ablations and other electrophysiology (EP) procedures to diagnose or treat a variety of conditions in which the heart beats abnormally.

July 25, 2013

Behind the scenes in Eliquis drama

The June issue of Pharmaceuticals Monthly explores the delay in the approval of apixaban (Eliquis) by the FDA. “Apixaban shows how a review that seems, on its face, like it should be a quick and clean affair can become derailed by issues that, but for the agency’s own public disclosures post-approval, would never see the light of day,” according to the article.

June 24, 2013

Heart Rhythm Society visits Capitol Hill to gain support for important legislation impacting the field of electrophysiology

Today, members of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) are visiting 35 congressional offices on Capitol Hill to raise visibility and support for two proposals: the “Medicare Program Integrity Improvement and Education Act” and the “Teaching Children to Save Lives Act.” HRS is advocating for the support of these two bills because both intend to deliver outcomes aligned with the Society’s mission to improve the care of patients by advancing research, education and optimal health care policies and standards. 

June 14, 2013

Birth of the pacemaker

Vincent L. Gott, MD, professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins Heart & Vascular Institute in Baltimore, shares his experiences as a developer of the pacemaker in an interview with CNN. The feature is part of CNN’s “Life Works” series.

May 15, 2013

The Heart Rhythm Society announces Dr. Hugh Calkins as the organization’s 35th president

Hugh Calkins, MD, FHRS, CCDS, was named the president of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) during the 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, held in Denver last week.  Announced during the Presidents’ Reception on Friday, May 10th, Dr. Calkins now serves as the 35th president of HRS, making Anne M. Gillis, MD, FHRS, the immediate past president. Dr. Calkins is currently a Nicholas J. Fortuin Professor of Cardiology and Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.  

May 13, 2013

HRS: 7% of S-ICD patients inappropriately shocked

Seven percent of patients implanted with subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) experienced inappropriate shocks, according to an analysis of registry data presented May 9 at the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) scientific sessions in Denver.

May 10, 2013

HRS: Watchman bumps out warfarin in PROTECT AF

The Watchman wait may be over. An analysis of long-term data found the Watchman left atrial appendage closure device to be superior to warfarin for primary efficacy and mortality.

May 9, 2013

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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