CardioExchange Archive

May 19th, 2014

Hospitalizations for AF Are on the Increase

Larry Husten, PHD

In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in atrial fibrillation (AF). Now a new study published in Circulation finds that hospitalizations for AF are on the increase, and this may have important implications for the delivery and economics of health care in the coming years. Researchers analyzed data  from nearly 4,000,000 hospitalizations in which AF […]

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May 14th, 2014

A Checklist for Leaving an EP Fellowship and Seeking a Job

Melissa R Robinson, M.D. and Michael Katz, M.D.

At the 2014 Heart Rhythm Society meeting, Michael Katz tweeted a compelling couple of slides presented by Melissa Robinson at a session titled “Emerging EP: Transition to Practice.” Review the slides here, and share what you think. Click on “Robinson Leaving EP Checklist” to see the slides. Robinson Leaving EP Checklist

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May 9th, 2014

Routine Defibrillation Testing Not Required During ICD Implantation

Larry Husten, PHD

Although commonly performed, routine defibrillation testing has never been shown to be safe or necessary. Now a new study, presented yesterday at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting in San Francisco, offers evidence that although routine testing is generally safe it may increase complications without producing any improvement in outcomes. In the SIMPLE (Shockless Implant Evaluation) trial, sponsored by Boston […]

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May 5th, 2014

Physical Activity Improves Heart Rate Variability In The Elderly

Larry Husten, PHD

A new study in Circulation offers fresh evidence that physical activity is beneficial to the heart in people aged 65 and older. Benefits were observed both in elderly people who reported the highest amount of overall physical activity and in those who increased their physical activity over time. U.S. researchers evaluated heart rate variability (HRV) using […]

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April 8th, 2014

Assessing the MRI Safety of New Pacemakers and ICDs

Promporn Suksaranjit, M.D.

Promporn Suksaranjit provides an update on the safety of pacemakers and ICDs in an MRI environment.

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March 30th, 2014

Long-Term Follow-Up from MADIT-CRT: Guideline Implications

Arthur J. Moss, MD

Arthur J. Moss discusses his research group’s study of long-term survival for patients who received cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator in the MADIT-CRT trial.

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March 30th, 2014

MADIT-CRT Long-Term Follow-Up Shows Survival Benefit with CRT-D

Larry Husten, PHD

MADIT-CRT was an influential trial that showed a reduction in heart failure complications — but not mortality — when cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was added to an implantable defibrillator in patients with mild heart failure who also had left bundle-branch block (LBBB). Patients in the trial were followed for 2.4 years, raising questions about the long-term effects […]

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March 28th, 2014

How Sure Can We Be About Optisure?

Edward J. Schloss, MD

Edward J. Schloss reflects on the release of the new Optisure family of ICD leads by St. Jude Medical, as well as the history of leads made by this company.

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March 24th, 2014

ACC.14 Preview: Renal Denervation, TAVR Comparisons, and More

Larry Husten, PHD

The ACC begins this Saturday in Washington, DC. Here’s a preview of some of the most highly anticipated late-breaking clinical trials: On Saturday morning at the opening session the world will finally learn more about the failure of Symplicity HTN-3, the Medtronic trial of renal denervation. Until recently, renal denervation was thought to be an extremely […]

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March 4th, 2014

AF Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Also Benefit from Warfarin

Larry Husten, PHD

Anticoagulation is a cornerstone of therapy for atrial fibrillation because it lowers the heightened risk for stroke in this population. People with chronic kidney disease are also at increased risk for stroke, but the benefits of anticoagulation are less clear in this group, and anticoagulation is used less often in AF patients who have CKD. […]

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