Two European cardiac electrophysiology congresses will hold a joint annual event beginning 2014 after signing an agreement June 13 at Cardiostim 2012 in Nice, France.

Source: Radiology, published online May 1, 2012A diffusional kurtosis model may help differentiate benign regions from malignant prostate cancer and distinguish low- from high-grade regions, according to a study published online May 1 in Radiology.

Medtronic has posted strong financial results for its 2012 fourth quarter and 2012 fiscal year, which ended April 27.

There was a small absolute increase in cardiovascular deaths, which was most pronounced among patients with a high baseline risk of cardiovascular disease during the five-day administration of the antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax, Pfizer) therapy. This study, which evaluated nearly 350,000 prescriptions of azithromycin and was published May 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine, has prompted an FDA review of its results.

BOSTONIs anti-arrhythmic drug use in ventricular arrhythmia and device patients safe? While the drugs might be useful in some instances, clinicians should not forget about the risks, said Paul Dorian, MD, MSc, during a presentation May 10 at the 33rd annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS).

BOSTONWhile innovations within the healthcare industry remain electric, there is still unexplained variations in care patterns in the U.S., particularly for device implants. Cardiologist density and patient insurance type could be some of the culprits, Paul Heidenreich, MD, of Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., said, adding that more work needs to be done to figure out the reasons for these differentiations.

BOSTONImplantation of the Watchman device (Boston Scientific) without a warfarin transition is safe and effective in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with contraindications to even short-term oral anticoagulation, according to an analysis of the ASA Plavix registry, presented May 11 as a late-breaking clinical trial at the 33rd annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society.

BOSTONTo hold or not to hold, that may be the question on surgeons' minds as patients present for surgery. Should anticoagulation be continued at the time of surgery or held in fear of thromboembolic risk? According to Michael C. Giudici, MD, of Genesis Heart Institute in Davenport, Iowa, the complication risks may be similar for both options; however, he summed that in most cases anticoagulation can and should be continued.