Electrophysiology is one of the most rapidly-growing areas of healthcare. That may be why it’s the focus of so many industry events including the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual conference. For those of you who were not able to attend Heart Rhythm 2018 in May, here are a few key takeaways and insights gleaned from the conference. 

 

1. Two Key Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Studies 

Medtronic and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Class I Urgent Medical Device Recall of the MindFrame Capture LP revascularization device on account of a risk of the delivery wire breaking or separating during use.

Lars Thording has a background in academia, consulting and the medical industry technology. 

May 21, 2018 — Cardiology medical device reprocessing company Innovative Health recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to reprocess the Abbott ViewFlex Xtra Diagnostic Ultrasound Catheter. Ultimately, this clearance will allow the company to develop a full product suite for clinicians based on this new category of devices, including other widely used mapping and imaging catheters.

May 21, 2018 — A recent study published in Heart and Vessels has found that the use of the Baylis Medical NRG radiofrequency (RF) Transseptal Needle for transseptal punctures was linked to a 40 percent lower incidence of silent acute cerebral embolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure patients.[1] 

Data on the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with non-left bundle branch block (non-LBBB) is limited and when available has been shown to be suboptimal compared to LBBB patients. A new study presented at the 2018 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Scientific Sessions, May 9-12 in Boston, compared the effects of targeting the region of increased electrical delay (QLV approach) for left ventricular (LV) lead location to a standard of care (SOC) anatomical implant approach in non-LBBB patients. The comparison was assessed on the Clinical Composite Score (CCS) after 12 months of follow-up.

In a new study, cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) therapy was confirmed to significantly improve exercise tolerance (ET) and quality of life (QoL) for patients with persistent symptomatic heart failure and an ejection fraction between 25 and 45 percent.  Results of the prospective FIX-HF-5C Study were presented at the 2018 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Scientific Sessions, May 9-12 in Boston.

A slide image from Reddy's presntation at Heart Rhythm 2018, showing thrombus formation on the face of a Watchman LAA Occluder device in an echo image. #HRS2018

May 18, 2018 — Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with the transcatheter Watchman device prevents thromboembolism from the LAA, but a new study shows that thrombus forms on the face of the device in about 3.7 percent of patients and it can embolize. The study was presented at Heart Rhythm 2018, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 39th Annual Scientific Sessions.

May 18, 2018 — Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure in the CASTLE-AF Trial was associated with significant improvement in AF burden compared to medical therapy.[1] The study was presented at Heart Rhythm 2018, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 39th Annual Scientific Sessions.

May 18, 2018 — Nearly half of patients prescribed warfarin and just under one third of those using newer direct oral anticoagulants do not maintain adherence above 80 percent. This leads to increased risks for thromboembolic events. This was according to a new study presented at Heart Rhythm 2018, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 39th Annual Scientific Sessions.

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