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.

RSS icon
Thumbnail

Screening older patients for AFib during regular care is feasible, but not productive

Screening did provide some value for patients 85 years and older, but more research is still required. 

Thumbnail

DOACs an effective substitute for VKAs after AFib patients undergo bioprosthetic valve replacement

Direct oral anticoagulants are noninferior to vitamin K antagonists when treating this important patient population, researchers reported. 

CRT-D

CRT-D associated with major improvements among older HFrEF patients

The study's authors said CRT use among older patients represents a "major gap in knowledge." 

The Vektor Medical vMap system takes standard 12-lead ECGs and converts them into detailed electro anatomical maps for us in catheter ablation procedures.

Electrophysiologists debut new technology that builds interactive cardiac maps out of 12-lead ECGs

The solution, which gained FDA clearance in November 2021, is now being used by specialists at the University of California San Diego Health.

The Freezor Cardiac Cryoablation Catheters

FDA expands two Medtronic cardiac cryoablation catheters for AVNRT

The two single-use devices are now approved for the treatment of pediatric AVNRT.

4 new medications and technologies that could transform cardiology in 2022

The FDA has already approved one of the medications, with a decision on another expected by the end of April. 

A dedicated Cardiac MRI scanner. The presence of myocardial fibrosis on cardiac MRI can help anticipate adverse arrhythmic events and  may offer a way to improve patient selection for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). This is a dedicated cardiac MRI system at Baylor Scott White.

Cardiac MRI a powerful tool for predicting sudden cardiac death, arrhythmia after CIED implantation

The study's authors suspect their findings could improve patient selection for CIEDs. 

The Abbott Aveir DR dual-chamber leadless pacemaker recently had its first human implant occur in the Aveir DR i2i study pivotal trial.

First implant of dual-chamber leadless pacemaker completed in Abbott’s Aveir DR i2i pivotal trial

The investigational dual-chamber pacemaker is designed to provide synchronous, beat-by-beat pacing of the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart.

Displaying 305 - 312 of 1669

Around the web

Health Imaging
Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Health Imaging
New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.