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.

Alien DNA, retractions, whistleblowers and more: The wild saga of hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19 continues

Hydroxychloroquine was once just an ordinary antimalarial medication—and then 2020 and COVID-19 happened. So how did we get here? 

MLB player’s myocarditis puts spotlight on potential cardiovascular complications of COVID-19

The news comes just days after Major League Baseball began its pandemic-shortened season.

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What cardiologists know, and don’t know, about genetic testing for heart disease

Such testing typically makes the most sense when patients have a confirmed diagnosis of an inherited cardiovascular disease or an abnormality has already been identified.

Meet ELVIS, the holographic display that improves cardiologist accuracy

ELVIS, it seems, has entered the operating room. 

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AI, imaging help clinicians predict cardiac death in heart failure patients

New research out of Japan could help at-risk patients receive the care they need as soon as possible.

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Medtronic’s new ICM gains FDA clearance, CE mark approval

The device is roughly one-third the size of a AAA battery.

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Slow heart rates reported in COVID-19 patients treated with lopinavir, ritonavir

Treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with a combination of lopinavir (LPV) and ritonavir (RTV) is associated with a significant risk of bradycardia, according to new research out of France.

Abbott’s line of next-generation heart rhythm devices gains FDA approval

The devices offer numerous new features, including an improved battery, MRI compatibility and Bluetooth connectivity.

Around the web

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

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