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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From left to right: Sunita Ferns, MD; Mark Plunkett, MD; Harma Turbendian, MD. Images courtesy of OSF Healthcare.

History made: Young child treated with new heart device for very first time

A care team in Illinois has performed the first heart procedure of its kind on a two-year-old patient diagnosed with Brugada syndrome. 

ACC offers practical approaches for arrhythmia monitoring after stroke

The American College of Cardiology published an expert consensus on practical approaches for arrhythmia monitoring after stroke to improve post-stroke care by identifying and managing atrial fibrillation.

FDA announces recall of cryoablation catheters after multiple injuries, including 4 deaths

Boston Scientific is recalling the catheters associated with its POLARx Cryoablation System due to a heightened risk of esophageal injury. The FDA has ruled that this a Class I recall.

Left: Petr Neužil, MD, PhD, head of the department of cardiology at Na Homolce Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic / Right: Vivek Y. Reddy, MD, director of cardiac arrhythmia services at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City

Cardiologists perform world’s first leadless LBBAP procedures with Abbott pacemaker

The first-in-human procedures were performed in Prague with the investigational Aveir CSP leadless pacemaker system.

Joseph C. Wright resigns from Merit Medical

President of medical device company resigns over conduct allegations after 7 months in role

Joseph C. Wright, a longtime Merit Medical employee, resigned after unspecified allegations regarding his conduct were brought to light. He was named the company's new president back in May.

Boston Scientific recalls more than 200,000 pacemakers after 2 deaths and 697 confirmed malfunctions.

FDA and Boston Scientific issue urgent alert about pacemaker failures following 2 deaths

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the recall notice for more than 200,000 pacemakers because a battery issue could lock the device in safe mode. 

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks

While the technology and techniques associated with TAVR have advanced over the years, treating patients who present with baseline atrial fibrillation is still associated with certain risks.

cardiologists evaluating the human heart to provide a treatment strategy

Cardiologists work to standardize the diagnosis and management of acute myocarditis

New expert recommendations from the American College of Cardiology were designed to help cardiologists, primary care physicians, emergency physicians, rheumatologists and other clinicians deliver the best care possible when managing suspected myocarditis. 

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