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.

Anne Kroman, DO, PhD, director of lead management and the device clinic, and assistant professor at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), explains more women need to be included in clinical trials to help better understand sex differences in electrophysiology presentations.

Why electrophysiology trials need to include more women

Most EP clinical study data are from men, Anne Kroman, DO, explained in an interview. This is a significant problem, she said, because heart rhythm issues look quite different in women. 

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Pharmacists help lower stroke risk in patients with undiagnosed, undertreated AFib

Researchers described pharmacies as an “attractive setting for community-based AFib screening."

FibriCheck, a Belgium-based healthcare technology company, has gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its artificial intelligence-powered digital platform that uses smartphone cameras to obtain heart rhythm measurements.

FDA clears heart rhythm AI that turns smartphones into medical devices

FibriCheck has been increasing its presence in the United States in anticipation of this approval, opening a new office and partnering with U.S. hospitals. 

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped cardiologists, radiologists, nurses and other healthcare providers embrace precision medicine in a way that ensures more heart patients are receiving personalized care.

Volta Medical, GE Healthcare partner on AI-powered AFib treatments

Under this new arrangement, Volta Medical's AI software will be integrated into GE Healthcare offerings to improve AFib outcomes. 

Anne Kroman, DO, MUSC, explains efforts to increasing female representation in electrophysiology. #GLOWE #HRS #HRS24 #WomeninEP

Efforts to get more women involved in electrophysiology and why it is important

Anne Kroman, DO, PhD, assistant professor at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), explains mentoring efforts for women in EP and why it is important for patients to see more female electrophysiologists to help overcome barriers.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Leadless vs. transvenous pacemakers after TAVR: Tracking complications, costs and survival

Leadless pacemakers may be an "attractive alternative" to transvenous devices when cardiologists treat older TAVR patients who experience conduction disorders.

Healthcare salaries and compensation

Compensation keeps climbing in cardiology, electrophysiology, heart surgery

Among general cardiologists, compensation increased nearly 8% from 2023 to 2024. Interventional cardiology and electrophysiology saw even larger jumps.

Pulse Biosciences nanosecond PFA pulsed field ablation system

FDA grants nanosecond PFA system its breakthrough device designation

The new-look PFA system from Pulse Biosciences was designed to treat AFib with a single application that lasts less than two seconds.

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