theheart.org: Arrhythmia/EP, Electrophysiology news and education

Thrombosis

The atrial septal pouch—a new source of thrombus?

11 COMMENTS - Jan 29, 2010 11:30 EST

This structure could be a source of thrombi and could explain the occurrence of many ischemic strokes, particularly in younger patients, researchers believe.

Orange, CA - A pouchlike structure, commonly found in the left atrium of the heart, has the potential to be a potent generator of thrombus and might be the cause of many ischemic events, particularly strokes in younger individuals, a new paper reports [1].

The paper, published in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions, was written by Drs Subramaniam Krishnan and Miguel Salazar (University of California at Irvine Medical Center, Orange).Read full article »

Inside: Arrhythmia/EP

Accredited educational programs, supported by industry, developed by theheart.org

Arrhythmia/EP

Does Early Intervention With CRT-D Improve Outcomes for Patients With Heart Failure?

2 COMMENTS - Oct 9, 2009 13:43 EDT

Dr. Ileana Piña discusses the design and outcomes of the MADIT-CRT trial with Drs. Moss and Estes, and how these new data may benefit patients with heart failure.

Arrhythmia/EP

First Response -- Improved Outcomes in Heart Failure: A First Look at Late-Breaking Data From ESC 2009

1 COMMENT - Aug 26, 2009 11:54 EDT

Does early intervention with CRT-D slow the progression of heart failure? Watch as Dr. David Cannom interviews Drs. Camm, Hlatky, Klein, Moss and Page, and gets their expert opinions on late-breaking clinical trial data released at ESC 09 and how it will affect patient care.

Arrhythmia/EP

Managing Atrial Fibrillation: Addressing the Gaps in Clinical Care

Jan 19, 2010 10:41 EST

Join Drs. Kowey, Prystowsky, and Naccarelli for a discussion on addressing gaps in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation.

Arrhythmia/EP

Pharmacologic Advances in Atrial Fibrillation: Achieving Optimal Antiarrhythmic and Cardiovascular Outcomes

2 COMMENTS - Dec 17, 2009 10:15 EST

Join Drs. Camm, Freemantle, and Connolly as they discuss a meta-analysis of antiarrhythmic agents and their impact on cardiovascular outcomes.

Arrhythmia/EP

Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Prevention: A Latin American Perspective

Nov 25, 2009 17:05 EST

A high-risk patient for stroke, stent thrombosis, and bleeding presents a difficult but not unusual challenge. Drs. Lopes, Granger, and Alexander discuss how to balance the risks.

Arrhythmia/EP

Challenges in Warfarin Use and Future Directions of Stroke Prevention in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Global Perspective

2 COMMENTS - Nov 25, 2009 11:27 EST

When is an effective, inexpensive, generic drug a liability? Such is the case for warfarin when reliable monitoring is either not available or untrustworthy. In many areas of the world, including rural areas of the United States and Latin America, eligible patients go untreated and are at risk for stroke. What does the future hold? Join Drs. Garcia, Carvalho, Granger, and Alexander for a discussion.

Arrhythmia/EP

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Do Recent Data Warrant a Change in the Guidelines?

Jan 28, 2010 16:24 EST

Join Drs. Prystowsky and Wilber as they discuss the results of pivotal cardiac resynchronization therapy trials in heart failure and their potential impact on the current treatment paradigm and guidelines.

Arrhythmia/EP

Risk Stratification in HF and CRT: How Do We Reconcile LV Ejection Fraction, QRS Duration, and NYHA Class?

Jan 27, 2010 10:59 EST

Join Drs. Marchlinski, Bax, and Estes for a discussion on recent CRT-D trials, the impact of therapy in early-stage HF patients, and how LVEF, QRS duration, and NYHA class may guide treatment.

Arrhythmia/EP

Contemporary Management of Arrhythmia: Practice-Based Approaches

Jan 20, 2010 13:58 EST

Advances have improved the ability to diagnose, prevent, and treat cardiac arrhythmias and associated conditions. Learn about ongoing improvements in arrhythmia management from a stellar Mayo Clinic faculty.

Imaging

Trials and Tribulations: Debating Controversial Topics in Cardiovascular Disease

Dec 21, 2009 09:48 EST

Fellows from The Mayo Clinic, Duke University, and The Cleveland Clinic discuss challenging cases with their mentors.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Translating Evidence From Trials With Antiplatelet Agents Into Clinical Practice

Dec 8, 2009 10:03 EST

Recently reported and new trials of antiplatelet therapy continue to redefine optimal management strategies for patients with atherothrombotic disease and patients with atrial fibrillation. Drs. Harrington, Angiolillo, Bhatt, Connolly, Mehta, and Simon discuss guidelines? recommendations for the use of antiplatelet therapies and the potential impact of emerging data regarding currently used and novel antiplatelet agents.

Arrhythmia/EP

New Therapeutic Strategies in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation

Oct 27, 2009 11:31 EDT

Atrial fibrillation is associated with a high risk for stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and death. How does blockade of the renin-angiotensin system affect patient outcomes? Join our international panel of experts, Drs Camm, Connolly, Crijns, and Granger, as they discuss the ESC 09 hotline results of the ACTIVE-I trial.

Imaging

Imaging and Risk Stratification in Heart Failure: An Expert Interview With Jeroen Bax, MD, PhD

1 COMMENT - Jul 14, 2009 11:30 EDT

Dr. Jeroen Bax, on the cusp of publishing a landmark paper to validate the role of MIBG imaging in risk stratifying patients with heart failure, provides a snapshot of his study in this interview from Europace 2009.

Heart failure

African Americans have highest risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy

Feb 8, 2010 17:00 EST

African American women have much higher odds of developing peripartum cardiomyopathy than non-African Americans, a new US study shows; the findings illustrate that race is by far the largest risk factor for this disease, say the researchers.

Clinical cardiology

From the heart: Call for better African CV research

Feb 8, 2010 17:00 EST

Two doctors from Mozambique are calling for concerted efforts to foster multidisciplinary research into neglected cardiovascular diseases that predominantly occur in Africa. These include newly emerging cardiac manifestations of infectious diseases, say the authors.

heartbriefs

Thomas recalls SafeSheath CSG introducers

Feb 5, 2010 10:30 EST

Thomas Medical is recalling certain lots of its SafeSheath CSG lead introducers in response to reports of fragmentation and embolization of the tip.

Arrhythmia/EP

A good report card for laser-assisted pacemaker/ICD lead extraction

Feb 5, 2010 09:30 EST

Non-procedure-related clinical issues, such as diabetes or device-related infection, are a major cause of poor procedural and clinical outcomes; still, the overall success rate is high, and complication rate is very low, suggests a multicenter experience of >1400 cases.

Arrhythmia/EP

UK cardiologists petition NICE to reverse dronedarone decision

1 COMMENT - Feb 4, 2010 13:15 EST

Doctors and patient groups are petitioning the agency to change its recent draft guidance, which did not recommend the use of the new drug for AF.

Arrhythmia/EP

Stand up and be counted: ECG-based test for long-QT syndrome proposed

1 COMMENT - Feb 3, 2010 17:15 EST

Easily added to any other tests performed, a positive finding suggests the patient is susceptible to potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias, according to researchers.

News

Procedure volume is a close proxy for popular hospital quality rankings

1 COMMENT - Feb 3, 2010 14:30 EST

A study comparing cardiovascular outcomes at the "best hospitals," according to two popular hospital ranking systems, shows that the systems do identify high-quality hospitals, but not all of them.

heartbriefs

Asymptomatic Brugada patients may not need ICDs

Feb 3, 2010 13:45 EST

In the largest series of Brugada-syndrome patients studied to date, researchers have discovered that arrhythmic event rates appear to be low for asymptomatic patients. The decision as to whether or not to implant an ICD in such patients therefore requires some consideration, say the authors.

News

Opportunity lost: 400 000 US CHD deaths predicted for 2010, as risk-reduction goals fall short

Feb 2, 2010 16:15 EST

The number of deaths predicted would be half as high, if the US population met goals set out 10 years ago in the Healthy People 2010 report, researchers say. Obesity and diabetes have proved to be the major obstacles.

Clinical cardiology

Herbal heartache: New review reminds cardiologists to query supplement use

Feb 1, 2010 17:00 EST

More than 15 million people in the US alone take herbal remedies and/or vitamins at doses that may be interacting with their cardiovascular medications, potentially putting them at risk.

Hypertension

Beta blockers: Less effect on pulse pressure than diuretics

1 COMMENT - Jan 28, 2010 13:30 EST

A new review of the use of beta blockers as second-line therapy for primary hypertension has shown that they appear to lower BP differently from thiazide diuretics, with less of an effect on pulse pressure.

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Editorial Programs

Editorial series

Technology and the future of cardiovascular care

Feb 4, 2010 15:00 EST

Dr Eric Topol talks to heartwire's Shelley Wood about remote monitoring, individualized medicine, and the changing face of cardiovascular care.

Editorial series

The AHA 2009 EP update: PACE, REPLACE, and the potential of remote monitoring

1 COMMENT - Jan 13, 2010 13:50 EST

heartwire's Shelley Wood speaks to Dr Bruce Wilkoff about PACE, new results from the REPLACE registry, and the exciting future for remote monitoring.

Editorial series

Perspectives from AHA 2009: Wrapping up the Scientific Sessions with Clyde Yancy and Nancy Brown

Dec 2, 2009 11:15 EST

AHA president Dr Clyde Yancy and CEO Nancy Brown share insights from the recent sessions and discuss ongoing initiatives with heartwire's Shelley Wood.