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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Atritech nets $30M to complete FDA review of Watchman device

Atritech, a clinical-stage medical device company, has completed a $30 million round of financing, led by Thomas, McNerney & Partners along with an investment from Split Rock Partners and insider investments from Prism Ventures, Tullis-Dickerson and Vector Group.

Implantable device may replace drugs in AF patients with stroke risk

ORLANDO, Fla.A device percutaneously implanted in the left atrial appendage may replace anti-thrombotic drugs for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), according to research presented during the i2 Summit at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 58th annual scientific sessions.

Anticoagulation therapy is subpar for a-fib patients, regardless of provider

ORLANDO, Fla.Suboptimal oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC), which varies in event rates across institutions, indicates the need for improved management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to prevent stroke in clinical practice, according to a poster study presented on Sunday at the 58th annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific sessions.

JS&CD: Abnormal EKG can predict death in stroke patients

People who suffer an ischemic stroke and have an abnormality in the heart's electrical cycle at the time of emergency treatmenthave a higher risk of death within 90 days than people without abnormal electrical activity, according to research published online March 20 in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Marchibroda leaves eHealth Initiative for IBM

Janet Marchibroda, former CEO of the eHealth Initiative, has left the organization to become chief healthcare officer at IBM.

PCI best for resuscitated arrest patients, despite neurologic status

When resuscitated cardiac arrest patients with STEMI are being evaluated in the emergency department, serious consideration should be given to emergent angiography and revascularization, regardless of neurologic status. These patients should be treated with the same urgency as patients with acute STEMI without cardiac arrest, according to a study in the February 3 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

FDA clears Biosense catheter as first to treat a-fib

The FDA has granted marketing approval to Biosense Webster's NaviStar ThermoCool Catheter for the treatment of drug refractory recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (a-fib), when used with compatible 3D electroanatomic mapping systems.

Circulation: Heart rhythm abnormality predicts sudden cardiac death

Researchers have discovered that a specific heart rhythm abnormalityidiopathic QT interval prolongationincreased the risk of sudden cardiac death five-fold among patients with coronary artery disease, according to a study published online this week in Circulation.

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