More than 95 percent of implantations with the Watchman device for left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation were successful, according to an analysis of procedural data.

Although St. Jude Medical recalled certain implantable heart defibrillators in 2015, the company acknowledged that it had continued to ship the old devices for up to 17 months, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Based on their findings, the researchers mentioned that EMRs could be used to evaluate existing prediction models and develop new models and be incorporated into clinical practice to prospectively identify people at high risk of atrial fibrillation and other diseases.

Abbott and St. Jude Medical announced Oct. 18 that the companies agreed to sell a portion of their vascular closure and electrophysiology business for $1.12 billion to Terumo Corporation.

Scientists have long thought that a human’s first heartbeat takes place on the 21st day after conception, but new research from the University of Oxford shows that it could be even earlier, at just 16 days after conception. 

An analysis of electronic medical records (EMRs) found that a previously validated risk model for predicting atrial fibrillation did a poor job predicting atrial fibrillation.

After a thorough review, the FDA has concluded that rivaroxaban (Xarelto) is a safe and effective alternative to warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Trial results on same-day discharge for elective implantable cardioverter-defibrillator procedures may reassure centers, but whether the approach lowers cost is anyone’s guess.