Westby G Fisher, MD

All posts by Westby G Fisher, MD

July 17th, 2013

A Surprising ICD Revision

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An ICD removed from a 70-year-old man has a startling appearance. Explain what you think happened, and offer your approach for how to care for this patient.


April 5th, 2012

When the Feds Come Knocking

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CardioExchange welcomes this guest post from electrophysiologists Westby Fisher and John Mandrola. This piece originally appeared on their respective blogs, Dr. Wes and Dr. John M. Slightly over a year ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation of a large number of institutions regarding concerns that implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) procedures were performed for […]


July 7th, 2011

Multaq’s Off Again, On Again, Then Off Again Ride

CardioExchange welcomes this guest post, reprinted with permission, from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. Today was another tough day for Sanofi’s dronedarone antiarrhythmic medication (marketed as Multaq®) after […]


June 20th, 2011

When the Stuff Hits the Fan

CardioExchange welcomes this guest post, reprinted with permission, from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. Easy case. Seen it a hundred times. Old guy (or gal). Comes into ER. Found “down.” “Hey doc, looks […]


February 14th, 2011

How Hospitals View Cardiology Groups

CardioExchange welcomes this guest post, reprinted with permission, from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. It is no surprise that hospitals are acquiring cardiology and primary care groups in droves lately, […]


December 13th, 2010

Preconceptions

CardioExchange welcomes this guest post, reprinted with permission, from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. One more to see after cases were completed. It had been a long day, […]


October 25th, 2010

The Empty Room

CardioExchange welcomes this guest post reprinted with permission from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. It stands as a monument to a bygone era; clean, quiet, spacious. Mail cubbies adorn […]


October 20th, 2010

Finally: Dabigatran – A New Oral Anticoagulant Is Approved by the FDA

CardioExchange welcomes this guest post reprinted with permission from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. A new era of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation management has arrived. Tuesday, the FDA approved the first new […]


October 18th, 2010

“Um”

CardioExchange welcomes this guest post reprinted with permission from Dr. Westby Fisher, an electrophysiologist practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. This piece originally appeared on his blog, Dr. Wes. I never like to hear “Um…” from nurses or industry representatives during surgical procedures. Most people […]


August 18th, 2010

Nay Fellow Way?

It was to be a routine pacemaker.

The parties assembled. The room prepped. IV started. Chest scrubbed. Antibiotics given. His nervous eyes raised when he saw me before the procedure, relieved at the sight of at least one familiar face.