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Heart Rhythm 2025 Heart Rhythm Society President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD

Pulsed field ablation was one of the biggest topics at Heart Rhythm 2025, the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society. Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Kardium and Field Medical all shared new data at the conference highlighting the safety and effectiveness of their advanced PFA technologies. 

OmniaSecure defibrillation lead for placement within a patient’s right ventricle

Medtronic emphasized that this device should be especially valuable when treating younger patients or those with a small anatomy.

robotic assisted robotic surgery robot

Robotic and traditional mitral valve repair surgeries are mostly associated with similar outcomes when treating elderly patients. In some ways, however, robotic procedures may be preferred. 

Alexander Kolomaya, MD, a cardiology resident at the University of Utah, presented a study on U.S. national trends in left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) volume and open payments from vendors to operators at the American Heart Association 2024 meeting.

Consulting fees and other vendor payments do not appear to be directly influencing U.S. physicians to implant more Watchman devices. Researcher Alexander Kolomaya, MD, discussed his team's findings on this topic.

AI healthcare doctor surgery procedure artificial intelligence

Advanced AI can provide real-time feedback to cardiologists, helping them deliver high-quality care. 

Product Recall

The mobile power units of certain HeartMate 3 and HeartMate II LVADs have been experiencing “sudden, unexpected performance issues” such as turning on, off or even restarting with no warning. These issues can potentially be fatal, according to an alert shared by the FDA.

Innovation at work

Follow-up care after a successful heart transplant can be challenging—both for providers and their patients. Consider, for example, the fact that so many patients who develop complications never actually present with symptoms.  

In cooperation with CareDx