September 13, 2021 — Ablation plus cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is superior to pharmacological rate control in reducing mortality in severely symptomatic permanent atrial fibrillation (...
Atrial Fibrillation
This channel includes news and new technology innovations for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, also referred to as AF or afib. AF is a cardiac arrhythmia caused by irregular and often rapid heart rate. It is caused by the upper chambers (the atria) beating irregularly and uncoordinated with the lower ventricle chambers of of the heart. Symptoms include weakness with heart palpitations and shortness of breath. The conditional can lead to an increased risk of stroke and heart failure. AF episodes can cause the blood in the atria to stagnate and form clots, usually within the left atrial appendage (LAA). The clots can flow to the brain and cause a stroke. Treatments include anticoagulation therapy to dissolve clots, catheter or surgical ablation and LAA occlusion.
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August 31, 2021 — Late-breaking data from a head-to-head clinical trial of the Amulet Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluder FDA IDE trial showed the Amulet was superior for the primary endpoint of...
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August 16, 2021 — The U.S.
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July 29, 2021 – Results of the STROKE-VT trial shows direct oral...
News | Atrial Fibrillation | September 13, 2021
September 13, 2021 — Ablation plus cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is superior to pharmacological rate control...
The Medtronic Linq II implantable cardiac monitor.
News | Atrial Fibrillation | September 08, 2021
September 8, 2021 — Continuous heart rhythm monitoring – with anticoagulation if atrial fibrillation is detected – does...
News | Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluders | August 31, 2021
August 31, 2021 — Late-breaking data from a head-to-head clinical trial of the Amulet Left Atrial Appendage (LAA)...
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OTC ECG devices can help detect abnormal heart rhythms in the general population, and this technology will continue to improve.
Feature | ECG | March 11, 2020
Apple created a stir when it announced in 2018 that its Apple Watch Series 4 was the first consumer health and fitness...
The Abbott Amplatzer Amulet left atrial appendage (LAA) transcatheter occlusion device. It received FDA clearance in August 2021.
News | Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluders | August 16, 2021
August 16, 2021 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Abbott's Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage...
News | Atrial Fibrillation | August 09, 2021
August 9, 2021 — Adagio Medical Inc., a provider of catheter ablation technologies for atrial fibrillation (AF) and...
News | EP Lab | August 03, 2021
August 4, 2021 — Temporary Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was effective in suppressing post-operative atrial...
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Several wearable, less-obtrusive ECG monitors have been cleared by the FDA for longer wear. This example is Cardiac Insight’s Cardea SOLO device.
Feature | ECG | February 19, 2020
When the patients of Michael Boler, M.D. need cardiac monitoring, the Holter monitor is no longer his first choice. “...
BIO-AffectDX is a multi-center, observational study that will enroll HF patients with paroxysmal, persistent and long-standing persistent AF, and a standard CRT-D indication. The study will include up to 400 participants implanted with a Biotronik Acticor CRT-DX system.
News | Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices (CRT) | August 03, 2021
August 3, 2021 — In association with Heart Rhythm 2021, Biotronik announced first enrollments in the landmark BIO-...
Results of the STROKE-VT trial showed direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are more effective than aspirin in reducing cerebrovascular events, including stroke in patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia ablation.
News | EP Lab | July 29, 2021
July 29, 2021 – Results of the STROKE-VT trial shows direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are more effective than aspirin...
News | Implantable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) | July 14, 2021
June 13, 2021 — Medtronic announced clinical trial results from the STROKE AF trial demonstrating the superiority of...
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Use of traditional Holter monitor leads can be an issue for patient compliance and comfort. The newer generation ambulatory cardiac monitors use a small, adhesive patch that sticks directly on the patient's chest and allows them to shower and go about daily activities without a belt mounted monitor or leads getting in the way. This is especially important for longer term monitoring of seven days or longer.
Feature | ECG | September 27, 2018
Advances in the technology of wearable cardiac monitors are improving both the experience of the patient and the...
An example of a strain echo from the study showing reduced peak longitudinal/reservoir left atrial strain in a COVID-19 patient who developed atrial fibrillation during admission. Average left atrial strain here is 20% (normal should be above 38%). Read the study.
News | Cardiovascular Ultrasound | July 14, 2021
July 13, 2021 — Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have shown that speckle-tracking strain echocardiograms may...
News | Atrial Fibrillation | June 23, 2021
June 23, 2021 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded approval for Medtronic's Arctic Front Family of...
GE is integrating artificial intelligence into most of its imaging and information technology software. AI can aid fast critical care decision making. Above left is the vScan Air wireless point-of-care ultrasound system. It integrates AI for immediate, automated assessment of a patient's ejection fraction, right.
Feature | Artificial Intelligence | June 10, 2021
The digital transformation of healthcare is underway, but it will advance further and faster if key stakeholders work...
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An example of the new generation of cardiac monitoring device that is replacing Holter monitoring is the Cardea Solo wearable sensor. The FDA-cleared device automatically analyzes data when the device is turned back into the physician's office and automatically produces a draft summary report. This technology can simplify the workflow by eliminating the need for third-party involvement.
Feature | Atrial Fibrillation | September 13, 2018
Rapid advances in technology to monitor atrial fibrillation (AF or Afib) are enabling clinicians to access real-time...
RAFT-AF study showed the type of heart failure may influence treatment strategies for heart rate management vs. arrhythmia control in in patients with heart heart and atrial fibrillation. Getty Images
News | Heart Failure | May 19, 2021
May 19, 2021 — Among patients with both heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AFib), treatment strategies focused on...
The Boston Scientific Watchman device have performed better than expected in real-world patients outside of trials since it was introduced in 2015, according to data from the NCDR LAAO Registry.
Feature | Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluders | May 16, 2021
May 15, 2021 - Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with a Boston Scientific Watchman device was...
In the LAAOS III trial, surgeons could seal off the LAA during the open heart procedure using sutures, staples or approved closure devices. The image shows a SentraHeart lasso type LAA occluder about to seal off the LAA from the outside of the heart.
News | Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluders | May 15, 2021
May 15, 2021 — Patients with an elevated risk of stroke due to heart rhythm problems, or atrial fibrillation (AFib),...
