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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St. David’s Medical Center first to use new cardiac mapping system to treat heart arrhythmias

The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, is the first facility in the nation to use a new platform designed to treat heart rhythms and arrhythmias.

Atrial fibrillation hospitalizations increase, but mortality rates, readmissions decline

Between 1999 and 2013, the adjusted rates of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation increased nearly 1 percent year per year among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, while the median Medicare inpatient expenditure per beneficiary increased from $2,932 to $4,719 per stay.

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Multiple pregnancies may increase risk of atrial fibrillation

Women who were healthy at baseline had an increased risk of atrial fibrillation if they had multiple pregnancies, according to an analysis of a large cohort.

FDA approves MR-conditioning labeling for Abbott’s pacemaker

The FDA approved a magnetic resonance (MR)-conditioning labeling for Abbott’s Assurity MRI pacemaker and its Tendreil MRI pacing lead.

FDA grants 510(k) clearance for CardioInsight 3D mapping system

The FDA granted a 510(k) clearance for the CardioInsight noninvasive 3D mapping system, which provides 3D maps of the heart and is used to map irregular heart rhythms.

Medtronic seeks CMS approval for Micra leadless pacemaker

Medtronic plans on seeking coverage from CMS for the company’s Micra Transcatheter Pacing System, the first and only FDA-approved leadless pacemaker.

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Researchers Dig for Data to Reduce Disparities in Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

Black people with atrial fibrillation (AF) experience vastly higher rates of serious coronary events, so it’s not surprising that a growing number of clinical studies are aggressively tackling the complex issues around the impact of race—as well as gender—on management and outcomes of the heart rhythm disorder.

Registry analysis finds most eligible adults receive a CRT-D device

Nearly 90 percent of adults who were eligible for cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) were implanted with the device, according to a retrospective registry study.

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