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New report on the burden of AF in Europe released

During AF Association Global AF Aware Week, Biosense Webster EMEA has published a report that uncovers the growing burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) on...

New harmonised outcome measures for AF published

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
New harmonised outcome measures for atrial fibrillation (AF) have been published in HeartRhythm. The work was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and...

Positive 12-month data presented for CardiAMP Cell Therapy System for heart...

Positive 12-month data have been presented for the roll-in cohort of the pivotal CardiAMP Heart Failure Trial studying the investigational CardiAMP Cell Therapy System...

AMBULATE study of VASCADE MVP system meets primary endpoint

The VASCADE MVP (Cardiva Medical), a vascular closure system designed specifically for multi-access venous closure following electrophysiology procedures such as arrhythmia ablation, met its...

Migraines that affect vision may increase risk of irregular heartbeat

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
People who experience migraine with visual aura may have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, according to a study published in the online issue...

Societies publish new guidance for the treatment of slow, irregular heartbeats

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
The American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society have released a guideline for the evaluation and treatment of...

US FDA approve HeartMate 3 heart pump advanced heart failure patients...

The HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device has received US FDA approval as a destination therapy for people living with advanced heart failure. With...

Medtronic HeartWare HVAD approved for destination therapy

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Medtronic’s HeartWare HVAD system as a destination therapy for patients with advanced heart failure who...

Snake venom inspires effective factor Xa reversal agent

A study has shown modified human factor X to be a safe and effective reversal agent for prevention and treatment of bleeding in patients...

LivaNova and MicroPort’s Rega family receives regulatory clearance in China

LivaNova cardiac rhythm management
LivaNova and MicroPort’s Shanghai-based joint venture—MicroPort Sorin Cardiac Rhythm Management—has obtained approval for Rega. The family of pacemakers is now approved by the China...

CE mark for CardioFocus’ Heartlight Excalibur balloon

CardioFocus’ HeartLight Excalibur Balloon has been granted CE mark. The technology is designed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The Excalibur balloon builds on the...

New performance and quality measures for treating heart attack patients

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have released updated clinical performance and quality measures to benchmark and improve...

EMA issues positive opinion for updated dabigatran summary of characteristics

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion for an update to...

Boston Scientific gets FDA approval for MRI labelling and launches Resonate...

  Boston Scientific has launched the Resonate family of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) systems featuring the HeartLogic Heart Failure...

People reluctant to use public defibrillators to treat cardiac arrest

Automated external defibrillator
A study led the University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, has suggested that people are reluctant to use public access defibrillators (AEDs) to treat cardiac...

FDA approval for MRI-compatibility for Ellipse ICD

Abbott has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional labelling for one of the company’s most widely-used implantable cardioverter...

Beta blockers may not improve survival after heart attack

statins
A new study has found that beta blockers are not needed after a heart attack if survivors are taking ACE inhibitors and statins. The...

Average age and income of US cardiologists on the rise

Time and money
According to a new survey, the average age and income of cardiologists in the US are increasing. The fifth annual Cardiovascular Provider Compensation &...

Flexible battery could revolutionise implanted devices

Flexible battery
Experts at Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK, have designed a flexible battery that could provide an alternative to the rigid batteries that usually power...

CE mark granted to Medtronic for Attain Stability Quad MRI SureScan...

Medtronic has received CE mark for the Attain Stability Quad MRI SureScan left heart lead. The device offers active-fixation technology, designed for precise lead...

US FDA approves Biotronik’s Edora HF-T QP MR-condition CRT-P

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Biotronik’s Edora HF-T QP magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemaker (CRT-P). The device—which features MRI...

“Singheart” offers step towards heart regeneration

New research has discovered a potential means to trigger damaged heart cells to self-heal. For the first time, researchers have identified a long non-coding...

ARCA completes enrolment for GENETIC-AF Phase 2B clinical trial

ARCA biopharma has announced the completion of enrolment for GENETIC-AF. This Phase 2B, double-blind, superiority clinical trial is evaluating bucindolol hydrochloride (Gencaro) as a...

Heart failure patient and clinician risk perceptions differ drastically

Physicians identified a majority of patients with advanced heart failure as at high risk for transplant, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or death while...

Marijuana use associated with three-fold risk of death from hypertension

Marijuana use is associated with a three-fold risk of death from hypertension, according to research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. “Steps are...

Social inequality may impact adult cardiovascular risk before birth

Children from socially and economically disadvantaged families and neighborhoods appear more likely to have thicker carotid artery walls. In adults, this may indicate higher...

European Medicines Agency issues positive opinion for rivaroxaban

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion on a label update...

US FDA approves Biotronik’s Intica CRT-DX therapy implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Biotronik’s Intica DX and Intica cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT)-DX implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) systems, which...

European Commission grants marketing authorisation to Vifor for patiromer hyperkalaemia treatment

The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for sodium-free potassium binder, patiromer (Valtessa; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, Vifor UK), for the treatment...

Gaining a few pounds may increase long-term heart failure risk

Gaining even a little weight over time may alter the structure and function of heart muscle, affecting long-term risk of heart failure, according to...

JACC review highlights Vectorious implantable haemodynamic monitor

A review appearing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) has highlighted Vectorious Medical Technologies, an Israeli company developing the world’s...

Late-breaking trials identify early onset of heart failure and lack of...

Automated external defibrillator
For the first time this year, late-breaking clinical trials session were held at the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC) Congress, to highlight world-class...

Cardiac Insight releases Cardea Solo wearable cardiac monitor for diagnosing AF...

Cardiac Insight, a US developer of wearable medical devices and diagnostic software, has announced that its US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Cardea Solo...

US government funding dwindles for cardiac arrest research

National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to conduct cardiac arrest research has dwindled in the last decade, and is a fraction of what the...

Final Phase III results support safety of idarucizumab as reversal agent...

Pradaxa dabigatran etexilate manufacture
Final results from RE-VERSE AD study show that idarucizumab, marketed in the US as Praxbind (Boehringer Ingelheim), was able to immediately reverse the anticoagulant...

First patients enrolled in Medtronic’s STOP AF First cryoballoon clinical trial

Medtronic's Arctic Front Advance cryoballoon
The first participants have been enrolled in Medtronic’s STOP AF First clinical trial. The trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of performing pulmonary...

Biotronik’s Evity quadripolar CRT-P released in Japan

Biotronik’s Evity cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemaker (CRT-P) has been launched in Japan. It is the company’s highest performing CRT-P, with a battery life of...

US FDA clears Cardiologs ECG Analysis platform

Cardiologs Technologies SAS has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its ECG Analysis platform, a cloud-based cardiac monitoring-analysis web service powered...

UK hospital failed to act lawfully when sharing patient data with...

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found that the Royal Free National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust (London, UK) did not adhere to...

Obamacare health insurance expansion linked to fewer cardiac arrests

A sudden catastrophic loss of heart function, or cardiac arrest, occurred significantly less among adults who acquired health insurance via the Affordable Care Act...

Childhood asthma may lead to thickening of left ventricle in adulthood

Young adults with a history of asthma are at a greater risk of thickening of the left ventricle according to research published today in...

Tenth edition of EHRA White Book of cardiac arrhythmia treatment data...

The tenth year of data on cardiac arrhythmia treatment is being launched at EHRA EUROPACE - CARDIOSTIM 2017. The edition marks the ten year anniversary...

Europace 2017: Breast implants may lead to false heart attack diagnosis

Breast implants may disrupt an electrocardiogram (ECG) and could result in a false heart attack diagnosis, according to research presented at EHRA EUROPACE -...

App directs first responders to cardiac arrest three minutes before ambulance

A novel smartphone application (app) has been developed that can direct first responders to cardiac arrest victims more than three minutes before the emergency...

European network created to find sudden cardiac arrest causes and treatments

A European network—the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network (ESCAPE-NET)—has been created to find sudden cardiac arrest causes and compare treatments. In Europe, around 20%...

European Heart Rhythm Association congress to become annual in 2018

The scientific congresss of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) is to become an annual event from 2018. The next congress will take place...

UK public health groups launch “Everyday Interactions” toolkit to measure professionals’...

AF
Public Health England (PHE) and the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) have published “Everyday Interactions”, a report which aims to support healthcare professionals...

Europace 2017: Stroke history higher in asymptomatic versus symptomatic atrial fibrillation...

Newly diagnosed asymptomatic atrial fibrillation patients have a higher rate of previous stroke than those with symptoms, according to results from the GLORIA-AF registry...

Breastfeeding may reduce a mother’s heart attack and stroke risk

Breastfeeding may reduce a mother’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke later in life, according to new research published in of the...

Improved therapy and reduced healthcare costs demonstrated for Medtronic CRT devices

New data showing the use of Medtronic’s cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) devices—with its proprietary AdaptivCRT and EffectiveCRT algorithms—to result in lower healthcare system costs...

Pacemakers and other cardiac devices can help solve forensic cases

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Pacemakers and other cardiac devices can help solve forensic cases, according to a study presented at EHRA EUROPACE - CARDIOSTIM 2017. Devices revealed the...

Stereotaxis launches e-Contact module in Europe

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Stereotaxis has announced the European launch of the e-Contact module, designed to provide physicians with a simple-to-interpret indicator of catheter tip-to-tissue contact. The e-Contact module...

The Sound Doctor releases 40 heart failure films for patients

The Sound Doctor, a UK-based provider of health-related film and audio content for patients, has announced a series of 40 films on heart failure. The...

Heart For Heart initiative launched to improve smartphone detection of arrhythmia

Happitech, Arrhythmia Alliance and Bug Labs are to announce the launch of the Heart for Heart e-health initiative. This programme asks people to participate...

Medtronic Reactive ATP therapy slows atrial fibrillation progression in real-world population

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Medtronic has announced that its Reactive atrial-based antitachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy slows the progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with implanted cardiac devices....

Snake venom might provide safer antiplatelet drug

Researchers have designed a safer antiplatelet drug based on a snake venom, according to new research in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Scientists from the...

Sensor-based CRT optimisation benefits sicker patients

This video has been sponsored by LivaNova. The RESPOND-CRT clinical trial is a relevant and significant study in the field of cardiac resynchronisation therapy. It...

Biotronik launches Edora pacemaker series with MRI AutoDetect technology

Biotronik has announced the availability of the Edora line of devices, the company's first available pacemaker series featuring the company's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 36 – April 2017 EU edition

Highlights: - Uninterrupted dabigatran outperforms warfarin in atrial fibrillation ablation - Martin Burke: Artificial intelligence - Roberto Keegan: The new LAHRS - Transvenous lead extraction is a safe procedure with low complication rates - In memoriam:...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 36 – April 2017 US edition

Highlights: - Uninterrupted dabigatran outperforms warfarin in atrial fibrillation ablation - Martin Burke: Artificial intelligence - Roberto Keegan: The new LAHRS - Transvenous lead extraction is a safe procedure with low complication rates - In memoriam:...

Abbott EnSite Precision™ Cardiac Mapping System ‒ CASE REPORTS

Two case reports—from Michael Kwasman, cardiac electrophysiologist, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, USA, and Rakesh Latchamsetty, cardiac electrophysiologist, University of Michigan Health Center, Ann Arbor, USA—demonstrate...

Men appear to have worse chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy

Men seem to have worse chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy than women despite receiving similar cancer treatments, according to research presented at EuroCMR 2017. “Cancer patients are living...

Data reinforce benefits of Medtronic cardiac resynchronisation therapy technologies in ‘real-world’...

New data supporting the clinical performance of the company's exclusive EffectivCRT diagnostic and AdaptivCRT algorithm in heart failure patients who receive cardiac resynchronisation therapy...

Timing of menopause onset associated with increased heart failure risk in...

Postmenopausal women who reached menopause at an earlier age or who never gave birth are at a higher risk for heart failure, according to...

Four out of 10 AF patients may not receive necessary stroke-prevention...

Many patients with an irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, are not receiving recommended blood thinning medication they need to prevent strokes, according to...

HRS 2017: True incidence of atrial fibrillation is underestimated

A substantial number of patients at risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) may remain undetected using conventional monitoring techniques, a late-breaking clinical trial session at...

HRS 2017: Micra reinforces its success in the real world

The Micra leadless pacemaker continues to demonstrate a high implant success rate and a low level of major complications at 30 days in a...

Siemens Healthineers and Imricor to partner for 3D MRI-guided cardiac ablation...

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Siemens Healthineers is joining forces with Imricor Medical Systems to develop an integrated system that combines the clinical benefits of real-time magnetic resonance imaging...

Medtronic receives FDA approval for MR-conditional quadripolar CRT pacemakers

Medtronic has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a portfolio of quadripolar cardiac resynchronization therapy-pacemakers (CRT-Ps) that are designed to improve...

Heart failure patients readmitted to the same hospital may have better...

When patients with heart failure were re-hospitalised within a month, those who returned to the same hospital were discharged quicker and were more likely...

First three patients enrolled in Adagio Medical CryoCure study

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
The first three persistent atrial fibrillation patients have been treated using Adagio’s cryolinear ablation technology. This follows the successful treatment of over 25 arrhythmia...

Boston Scientific receives US FDA approval for Resonate family of high-voltage...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Boston Scientific’s Resonate family of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D)...

US FDA approves Biotronik’s ProMRI MultiPole pacing

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Biotronik has announced US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the company's MultiPole pacing (MPP) technology, designed to provide physicians with additional treatment...

Biotronik launches first US FDA-approved CRM devices with MRI AutoDetect technology

Biotronik has announced the availability of the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices with technology that automatically recognises...

US FDA approves Biotronik’s Sentus ProMRI quadripolar left ventricular lead

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Biotronik’s Sentus ProMRI, the thinnest quadripolar left ventricular lead available in the country. Sentus ProMRI is...

Unemployment associated with 50% higher risk of death in heart failure...

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Unemployment is associated with a 50% higher risk of death in patients with heart failure, according to research presented at Heart Failure 2017 and...

Heart failure mortality is inversely related to wealth of country

Death in patients with heart failure is inversely related to the wealth of the country they live in, according to late breaking results from...

Survey finds 79% of atrial fibrillation patients would say “yes” to...

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
A new AF atrial fibrillation (AF) patient survey carried out by the AF Association has been launched. Results showed that 79% of patients surveyed—who...

Physical activity may ward off heart damage

Physical activity can lower the risk of heart damage in middle-aged and older adults and reduce the levels of heart damage in people who...

Biotronik launches Plexa ProMRI ICD lead with helical design in Europe

Biotronik has announced the European launch of a new lead for tachycardia therapy that features a helical design for increased long-term performance through stress...

Taller, heavier women have nearly threefold greater risk of atrial fibrillation

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Women who are taller, heaver and have a greater body surface area have a nearly threefold greater risk of atrial fibrillation than smaller women,...

Medtronic ENDURANCE Supplemental trial of HVAD fails to meet primary endpoint

Medtronic’s ENDURANCE Supplemental trial of the company’s HVAD ventricular assist device has failed to meet its primary endpoint of all neurological events at 12...

Janssen and Premier to initiate stroke risk management study among AF...

Janssen Pharmaceuticals has collaborated with Premier on the first and largest study of its kind to address an unmet medical need for hospitalised patients...

Medtronic initiates global trial of Arctic Front Advance cardiac cryoablation catheter

Medtronic has enrolled the first participants in the STOP Persistent AF clinical trial. The trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a pulmonary...

First patient enrolled in Daiichi Sankyo’s ELIMINATE-AF edoxaban study

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
The first patient has been enrolled into Daiichi Sankyo’s ELIMINATE-AF study. The multinational, randomised phase 3b study will explore the safety and efficacy of...

Cardiac lead extractions safer in high volume centres

Cardiac lead extraction is safer in high volume centres, according to the largest study of contemporary practice in Europe, published in European Heart Journal....

Biosense Webster launches Carto 3 system Carto Visitag module with Ablation...

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Biosense Webster has launched of the Carto Visitag module with Ablation Index, a new technology providing visual indication based on the integration of power,...

US FDA grants Investigational Device Exemption to Aegis Medical for Sierra...

Aegis Medical Innovations has received Investigational Device Exemption approval from the US FDA to initiate a clinical trial in the US for its Sierra...

Biotronik launches Edora MR-conditional pacemakers

Biotronik has launched the Edora range of high-functioning, small-size pacemakers and cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemakers (CRT-Ps). The new devices are equipped with features designed to improve...

Research argues requirements for AEDs in US schools need improvement

Automated external defibrillator
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are associated with increased survival of sudden cardiac arrest when installed in schools, yet only 17 out of 50 US...

UK NICE recommends Boston Scientific CRT-D devices using EnduraLife battery technology

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued medical technology guidance recommending the use of Boston Scientific’s cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillators...

ACC 2017: Mary Norine Walsh assumes American College of Cardiology presidency

Mary Norine Walsh has become president of the American College of Cardiology during the Convocation Ceremony held in conjunction with the society’s 66th Annual...

ACC 2017: Anticoagulant treatment may be unnecessary for stroke prevention following...

For patients with persistent atrial fibrillation or those who are at high risk for recurring atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation is recommended, followed most often...

ACC 2017: Wrist-worn heart rate monitors less accurate than standard chest...

clinical technology that you can wear
Researchers at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA, put five popular wrist-worn fitness trackers to the test to find out how accurately they gauge heart rate...

AliveCor unveils first artificial intelligence-enabled platform for early atrial fibrillation detection

AliveCor has release the Kardia Pro, an industry-first artificial intelligence-enabled platform for doctors to monitor patients for the early detection of atrial fibrillation, in...

Coffee shops and cash machines ideal locations for lifesaving automated external...

Community coffee shops and cash machines might be ideal locations for public access to automated external defibrillators, according to new research published in Circulation. An...

ACC 2017: Researchers sound alarm over Zika’s potentially harmful effects on...

As the Zika virus continues to spread globally, new evidence has emerged about the virus’s potentially detrimental effects on the heart, according to data...

ACC 2017: Real-world study supports the effectiveness of the CardioMEMS HF...

A study outside the clinical trial setting, which included US Medicare patients, has shown the effectiveness of the CardioMEMS HF system (Abbott) to significantly...

Biomarkers accurately predict acute kidney injury risk in acute decompensated heart...

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Newly published findings suggest that certain urinary biomarkers could help clinicians identify risk of acute kidney injury in patients with acute decompensated heart failure....

ACC 2017: More hospitalisations and deaths for US heart failure patients...

Patients with heart failure in the USA are more likely to be hospitalised and more likely to die during the colder winter months, according...

Daiichi Sankyo begins ENTRUST-AF PCI study of once-daily edoxaban

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
The first patient has been enrolled into Daiichi Sankyo’s ENTRUST-AF PCI study. The multinational, randomised phase 3b study will evaluate a treatment regimen based...

European Society of Cardiology publishes special collection on eHealth revolution

How are smartphones and computer programs transforming healthcare, especially when it comes to preventing, diagnosing and treating heart disease? This is the focus of...

Increased physical activity, lower BMI may lower heart failure risk

While lifestyle patterns, including physical activity and body mass index (BMI), are associated with overall heart failure risk, they are more strongly associated with...

Following dietary recommendations leads to modest heart health improvements

Following current dietary recommendations may lead to small improvements in overall heart health in overweight individuals, according to a study published in the Journal...

Researchers urge physicians to discuss herbal medication use with heart disease...

Physicians should be well-versed in the herbal medications heart disease patients may take to be able to effectively discuss their clinical implications, potential benefits...

Anders Hove joins Arca Biopharma board of directors

Anders Hove has joined Arca Biopharma’s board of directors. “Anders brings decades of experience building and advising biopharmaceutical companies,” says Michael R Bristow, president and chief...

US FDA approves expanded indication for Medtronic Freezor Xtra cryoablation catheter

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Medtronic’s Freezor Xtra cryoablation catheter for treating patients with atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The...

Advancements in Persistent AF Ablation: New Clinical Evidence and Techniques

This webinar has been sponsored by Medtronic.  Watch the recent webinar on persistent Atrial Fibrillation (AF) ablation with Prof. Schilling (St. Barts, London), Prof. de...

SentreHEART Lariat and Eclipse receive reimbursement renewal in Germany

SentreHeart
The German Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has renewed Status 1—the highest of four levels—for SentreHEART’s Lariat and Eclipse left atrial appendage...

COMPASS study of Janssen’s rivaroxaban to end early for efficacy

rivaroxaban
The phase three COMPASS trial, evaluating the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen) for the prevention of major adverse cardiac events, including cardiovascular...

First Texas centre uses St Jude Medical Amplatzer Amulet

The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St David's Medical Center,  Austin, USA became the first facility in the US state of Texas to implant...

Boston Scientific launches Resonate CRT-D platform in Europe

Boston Scientific has launched the Resonate cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) systems in Europe. This new family of devices features SmartCRT technology, which recently...

Habitual e-cigarette use associated with increased cardiac sympathetic activity

A study published in JAMA Cardiology has shown a link between habitual e-cigarette use and increased cardiac sympathetic activity and oxidative stress. The 2016 European...

Parents of children with serious heart defects may be at risk...

Parents of children with “critical” congenital heart defects – which require at least one cardiac surgery – are at high risk for mental health...

Flu, pneumonia vaccines may improve health of heart failure patients

Flu and pneumonia vaccines may improve the quality of life and outcomes of heart failure patients by providing cost-effective protection against life-threatening respiratory infections,...

US FDA clears CardioInsight noninvasive 3D mapping system

Medtronic has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the CardioInsight noninvasive 3D mapping system. The CardioInsight system is used to...

Very low LDL cholesterol levels well-tolerated in heart disease patients

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Heart disease patients taking PCSK9 inhibitors to achieve very low levels of cholesterol do not experience an increase in adverse events, including memory impairment...

US Medicare to cover leadless pacemakers

The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have made the decision to cover leadless cardiac pacemakers, as outlined in the agency's final...

Biotronik to host 10th annual “Expert Meeting Berlin”

For the tenth year in a row, Biotronik is hosting the “Expert Meeting Berlin” (EMB). Led by Christopher Piorkowski, Heart Center Dresden, Germany, the...

Latest statistics show heart failure on the rise

bradyarrhythmia
The number of adults living with heart failure increased from about 5.7 million (2009-2012) to about 6.5 million (2011-2014), according to the American Heart...

CardioFocus HeartLight Excalibur balloon undergoes initial clinical evaluation

CardioFocus has announced the initial clinical evaluation of the HeartLight Excalibur balloon, a next-generation technology designed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The device...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 35 – January 2017

Highlights: -Case strengthens for opportunistic atrial fibrillation screening -Multisensor algorithm provides timely alert to predict early sings of worsening heart failure -Pier Lambiase: Non-invasive imaging -Advertorial: OSYPKA launches...

Robert Califf resigns as US FDA commissioner

Robert Califf has stepped down as US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner upon the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President on 20...

Biotronik launches Edora smaller-size pacemakers

Biotronik is launching a new series of Edora single- and dual-chamber pacemakers in Japan ahead of its global launch. These devices feature both the...

High survival rates for elderly patients with implantable defibrillators

Of patients over age 65 who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) after surviving sudden cardiac arrest or a near-fatal arrhythmia, almost 80% survived two...

Seth J Worley

  Seth J Worley (senior consultant, Cardiac Rhythm Device Management, MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA) considers that...

St Jude Medical announces Merlin cybersecurity updates

St Jude Medical has announced that it will immediately deploy the latest release of cyber security updates for its Merlin remote monitoring system, used...

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer provide US$50 million dollar loan to Portola...

Portola Pharmaceuticals has signed a US$50 million loan agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer that provides additional funding toward development and clinical studies of...

American Heart Association launches Center of Excellence hospital accreditation

From the start of this year, American Heart Association (AHA) is offering advanced accreditation for hospitals that meet the high standards needed for treating...

Sixty-five percent of women cardiologists experience discrimination at work, ACC survey...

Cardiologists are highly satisfied in their careers; however, disparities remain between the career experiences of men and women, according to the American College of...

Alcohol abuse increases risk of heart conditions as much as other...

Alcohol abuse increases the risk of atrial fibrillation, heart attack and congestive heart failure as much as other well-established risk factors such as high...

First patients treated with BioTrace Medical’s Tempo temporary pacing lead

Biotrace Medical's Tempo leadBioTrace Medical has announced the first commercial use of the company’s Tempo temporary pacing lead since US Food and Drug Administration...

STS recommends surgical ablation as an “effective” treatment for atrial fibrillation

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has issued new clinical guidelines that include major recommendations for the use of surgical ablation when treating atrial...

US FDA bans powdered gloves

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule to ban powdered surgical gloves, patient examination gloves and the absorbable powder...

NICE collaborates with US FDA on Payer Communication Taskforce

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced its participation in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Payer Communication...

US FDA clears St Jude Medical’s EnSite Precision cardiac mapping system

St Jude Medical has announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its EnSite Precision cardiac mapping system and Advisor FL circular...

Moderate, habitual alcohol intake associated with atrial fibrillation

People who binge drink often experience an irregular heartbeat or a heart “flutter,” sometimes referred to as “holiday heart syndrome.” However, people who drink...

Medtronic receives CE mark for less-invasive HVAD implant procedure

Medtronic’s HVAD system left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has received CE mark for a less-invasive implant procedure in patients with advanced heart failure. The...

US FDA clears Corsens Cardiac Monitor

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Corsens Medical has received clearance for a pre-marketing notification (510(k)) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its cardiac monitor. The company received...

Amsel Medical to present Occluder research at ICI 2016

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Amsel Medical Corporation is to present initial animal results of its “A Novel Mechanical Closure Device for Left Atrial Appendage Orifice and Closure of...

US FDA approves Medtronic’s Claria MRI Quad cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator

Medtronic has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Claria MRI Quad cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) SureScan device for patients...

Health Canada approves edoxaban for two indications

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Health Canada has approved edoxaban (Lixiana, Servier Canada) for the prevention of stroke and for systemic embolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation,...

Stereotaxis granted Chinese patent for Vdrive system with V-Loop manipulator

Stereotaxis has been awarded a patent protecting its Vdrive robotic navigation system with V-Loop variable loop catheter manipulator by the State Intellectual Property Office...

Short episodes of atrial fibrillation may not increase risk of stroke

People with pacemakers or defibrillators who experience only short episodes of atrial fibrillation have a very low risk of stroke, suggesting that anticoagulants in...

Big data analysis is “next frontier” in identifying harmful drug interactions

Coupling data mining of adverse event reports and electronic health records with targeted laboratory experiments, researchers have found a way to identify and confirm...

ESC 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines describe benefits of cryoballoon ablation and...

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
Cryoballoon ablation for patients with diagnosed atrial fibrillation, and long-term cardiac monitoring for survivors of stroke who do not have an established diagnosis of atrial...

St Jude Medical launches trial of Amplatzer Amulet left atrial appendage...

The St Jude Medical Amplatzer Amulet Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trial, which will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the company’s Amplatzer Amulet left...

Higher thyroid hormone levels linked to sudden cardiac death

Risk of death from a sudden loss of heart function has been found to be significantly greater in patients free thyroxine (FT4) levels at...

Atrial fibrillation linked to wider range of serious conditions than previously...

bradyarrhythmia
Atrial fibrillation is associated with a wide range of serious events, including heart attacks, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and sudden cardiac death, a...

ESC and EACTS launch first collaborative atrial fibrillation guidelines

The first European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) have been...

SAVE study finds no cardiovascular benefit for CPAP sleep apnoea treatment

More than three years of nightly treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine did not reduce cardiovascular risk more than usual care...

New alliance for heart failure calls for improved care for condition

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
A coalition of charities, patient groups, professional bodies and healthcare companies with an interest in heart failure has been established to raise the profile...

EHRA releases White Book 2016 EP Europace Supplement

The European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and the EP Europace journal have released the supplement to its ninth annual EHRA White Book, developed in...

BioSig Technologies announce peer-reviewed study of Pure EP

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Clinical Electrophysiology has published an article investigating BioSig Technologies’ Pure EP system. According to a company release,...

Experts discuss non-responders to cardiac resynchronisation therapy at ESC scientific symposium

EPIC Alliance experts at the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC; Rome, Italy) congress presented original research and real-world clinical evidence on non-responders to...

Biotronik Home Monitoring associated with 38% reduced all-cause mortality at one...

During a scientific talk at the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress, Gerhard Hindricks, Leipzig Heart Center, Germany, presented results of a meta-study;...

Daiichi Sankyo PREFER in AF registry suggests increased stroke risk among...

Daiichi Sankyo has announced data from new sub-analyses of the Prevention of thromboembolic events—European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF) patient registry, which...

Medtronic EffectivCRT-during atrial fibrillation algorithm can improve therapy delivery

Cardiac Rhythm news for specialists
The Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Efficacy Enhancement (CRTee) study has shown that the Medtronic EffectivCRT-during atrial fibrillation algorithm can improve therapy delivery in heart failure...

Andexanet alfa study shows rapid and substantial anti-Factor Xa activity reversion

Portola Pharmaceuticals has announced interim results from the ongoing phase3b/4 ANNEXA-4 study of andexanet alfa (AndexXa), a Factor Xa inhibitor antidote. In this study of...

Fewer cardiovascular drugs being studied in clinical trials

The number of cardiovascular drugs in the research pipeline has declined across all phases of development in the last 20 years—even as cardiovascular disease...

Medtronic Micra TPS sustains low complication rate through 12 months

New long-term results from the Medtronic Micra Transcatheter System Global Clinical Trial have shown consistently low rates of major complication. The data—from largest and...

US FDA approves Boston Scientific Emblem MRI S-ICD system

Boston Scientific has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Emblem MRI subcutaneous implantable defibrillator (S-ICD) system, as well as magnetic...

First European implantation of Biotronik E3-series pacemaker performed in UK

Following recent CE mark approval for Biotronik’s E-Series pacemakers, a UK patient has become the first in Europe to be implanted with the streamlined...

Study validates new in-hospital mortality risk model for heart attack patients

The ACTION Registry-GWTG in-hospital mortality risk model for heart attack patients has been updated to include cardiac arrest, and validated as a robust instrument...

US FDA clears expanded paediatric indication for Itamar Medical WatchPAT device

Itamar Medical has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to expand the medical indication of WatchPAT for sleep apnoea diagnosis. WatchPAT is...

US FDA releases draft guidance on real-world evidence and medical device...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a draft guidance document entitled “Use of Real-World Evidence to Support Regulatory Decision-Making for Medical...

Stereotaxis releases second generation V-CAS Deflect system in Europe

Stereotaxis has announced the market release of its second generation V-CAS Deflect catheter advancement system in Europe. The V-CAS Deflect catheter advancement system is...

St. Jude Medical brings to market an automated, flexible and precise...

This advertorial is only available in countries outside the USA. The EnSite Precision™ cardiac mapping system from St. Jude Medical is designed to provide automation,...

Wireless CRT has the potential to improve response in heart failure...

The world’s only wireless endocardial pacing system for cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT)—WiSE (Wireless Stimulation of the Endocardium) CRT System (EBR Systems)—is showing promise treating...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 32 – April 2016

Highlights: -No significant difference between “fire” and “ice” AF ablation -INOVATE-HF shows no evidence that vagus nerve stimulation reduces death in heart failure -James A Reiffel: Antiarrhythmic...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 31 – January 2016

Highlights: -Ultrasound-based system shows promise mapping atrial fibrillation - New survey on cardiac resynchronisation therapy use in Europe launched - Focus on: Leadless pacing - EHRA White Book -...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 30 – October 2015

Highlights: -Benznidazole ineffective at reducing clinical progression in chronic Chagas disease - Idarucizumab immediately reverses anticoagulant effect of dabigatran in AF patients - EHRA inventors awards - Enrico...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 29 – June 2015

Highlights: -Botox reduces AF burden for up to a year after cardiac surgery -Safety and efficacy of Transcatheter Pacing System demonstrated in initial study -Maria G Bongiorni:...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 28 – April 2015

Highlights: -Reversal agents may help to quell fears of major bleeding with novel oral anticoagulants -Baroreflex neuromodulation therapy shows positive outcomes in heart failure treatment -Laurent Macle:...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 28 – April 2015 US Edition

Highlights: -Reversal agents may help to quell fears of major bleeding with novel oral anticoagulants -Baroreflex neuromodulation therapy shows positive outcomes in heart failure treatment -Laurent Macle:...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 27 – January 2015

Highlights: -Patients with standard cardiac devices can undergo non-thoracic MRI scans -Antiplatelets combined with anticoagulants linked to increased risk of dementia -Michel Haïssaguerre: Non-invasive mapping -Adrian Zurbucken: Non-battery...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 27 – January 2015 US Edition

Highlights: -Patients with standard cardiac devices can undergo non-thoracic MRI scans -Antiplatelets combined with anticoagulants linked to increased risk of dementia -Michel Haïssaguerre: Non-invasive mapping -Adrian Zurbucken: Non-battery...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 26 – October 2014

Highlights: -First sham controlled trial of vagal nerve stimulation for heart failure fails -New drug shows promise for treating heart failure -Boris Schmidt: Left atrial appendage -Felipe Bisbal:...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 26 – October 2014 US Edition

Highlights: -First sham controlled trial of vagal nerve stimulation for heart failure fails -New drug shows promise for treating heart failure -Boris Schmidt: Left atrial appendage -Felipe Bisbal:...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 25 – June 2014

Highlights: -Defibrillation testing may not be necessary -Aggressive lifestyle management helps improve success rate of AF after ablation -John D Day: AF management -Feature: leadless pacing -Profile: Nick Linker https://cardiacrhythmnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/06/25-Cardiac-Rhythm-News.pdf

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 24 – April 2014

Highlights: -Early CRT reduces risk of death in selected mild heart failure patients -Cardiac monitors are better than standard monitoring detecting AF in cryptogenic stroke patients -HeartLight...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 23 – January 2014

Highlights: -Largest anticoagulant trial in atrial fibrillation shows edoxaban is as effective as warfarin -New generation pacemakers reduce atrial fibrillation progression by 61% at two years -Ablation...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 22 – October 2013 US Edition

Highlights: -Resynchronisation in narrow QRS patients questioned -Delayed enhancement -MRI detected atrial fibrosis could predict successful ablation in atrial fibrillation -Clinical strategies for selecting oral anticoagulants in atrial...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 21 – June 2013

Highlights: -Wearable defibrillator aids decision making on ICD need -First-in-man study shows promise with leadless pacing -Remote monitoring of ICD patients: What is the patients' opinion by...

Cardiac Rhythm News Issue 20 – April 2013

Highlights: - Renal denervation now under consideration for arrhythmias - Watchman device is safe but efficacy debated - Leadless technology: The next frontier of cardiac pacing - Profile:...

FIRE AND ICE trial results: cryoballoon ablation is non-inferior to radiofrequency...

Karl-Heinz Kuck, Asklepios Klinik St Georg, Hamburg, Germany, speaks at ACC 2016 about the FIRE AND ICE trial results which have shown that cryoballoon...

Continuous monitoring of heart failure patients feasible with implantable cardiac microchip

CardioMEMS (St Jude Medical), FDA approved in 2014, is a minimally invasive device used to measure the pulmonary artery pressures and heart rates of...

Invisible impact: The risk of ionising radiation on cath lab staff

This video from the Organization for Occupational Radiation Safety in Interventional Fluoroscopy (ORSIF) tells the story of one of the world’s most prominent cardiovascular surgeons, Edward...

Entirely Subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) poised to revolutionise treatment of Sudden Cardiac...

The publication of important new long-term data from nearly 900 patients and a rapid evolution in the technology is putting entirely the Subcutaneous Implantable...

Living arrhythmias

This film stars cardiologist John C Grammer, who shows his novel way of demonstrating various heart rhythms and cardiac arrhythmias. https://youtu.be/TJR2AfxVHsM

Ambulance-drone: A new way to deliver automated defibrillators

Alec Momont (graduate student, Technical University of Delft IDE, The Netherlands) has designed an ambulance-drone capable to deliver defibrillation to cardiac arrest victims in...

Antiplatelet-anticoagulant therapy combined linked to increased risk of dementia

Jared Bunch (Murray, USA) speaks, at AHA 2014, about a new study, which shows how AF patients treated with a combination of antiplatelet and...

Catheter force sensing and robotic navigation performed at Barts NHS Trust

Richard Schilling (professor of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London, UK) speaks about the use of robotic...

Yoga and atrial fibrillation

Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, director, Center for Excellence in AF and Complex Arrhythmias, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA, explores the effects of yoga...

Highlights Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Sessions 2014

John D Day, president-elect of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and programme chair HRS Scientific Sessions 2014, talks to Cardiac Rhythm News about the...

CRYSTAL AF update

Richard Bernstein, professor of neurology in the Davee Department of Neurology at Northwestern University, director of the Stroke Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in...

CABANA trial update

Douglas Packer (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA) shares with Cardiac Rhythm News information on the design and rationale of the CABANA (Catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug...

What is the success rate for atrial fibrillation ablation?

Darryl Wells of the Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute, Seattle, USA, talks about how safe the ablation procedure is and how important getting patients...

ESC 2013: Highlights on arrhythmia and device therapy

Christophe Leclercq, Rennes, France, chairperson of two European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2013 sessions in cardiac resynchronisation therapy, speaks about this year’s congress highlights...

Treatments to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation patients

Patrick Ellinor, director Cardiac Step Down Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Corrigan Minehan Heart Centre (Boston, USA) discusses different treatment options to prevent stroke in...

Improved clinical outcomes for CRT patients with multidisplinary care

Jagmeet Singh, director of the Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, USA, discusses a clinical trial which compared multidisciplinary...

Understanding ablation of ventricular tachycardias

Richard Hongo, cardiac electrophysiologist, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, USA, explains how ablation of ventricular tachycardias works. https://youtu.be/Y-YzXbfcAas

HRS launches Arrest the Risk campaign to overcome the barriers to...

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), commonly mistaken for a heart attack, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States each year,...

HRS educational patient video on Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Bronze winner at...

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Patient Education DVD is the Society’s first-ever educational DVD developed as a resource specifically for patients with SCA and part...

Philips launches campaign to raise awareness on sudden cardiac arrest

Royal Philips Electronics has launched the Save Lives website (www.SaveLives.net), an online campaign to inform people about sudden cardiac arrest and to empower them...

Husam Balkhy performs robotic RF ablation with the Cobra Adhere XL

Husam Balkhy, director Center for Minimally Invasive Cardiac and Robotic Surgery, The Wisconsin Heart Hospital, USA, performs a totally endoscopic robotic RF ablation procedure...

Thomas Moyer speaks on warfarin’s sensitive genotype test

Thomas Moyer, Mayo Clinic, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, describes the four basic categories of patients as identified through a sensitive genotype test,...

Carlo Pappone performs AF ablation with Stereotaxis magnetic navigation system

Carlo Pappone, The San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy, performs atrial fibrillation ablation with Stereotaxis remote magnetic navigation system and CARTO RMT non fluoroscopic mapping...