Electrophysiology

The cardiac subspecialty of electrophysiology (EP) diagnoses and treats arrhythmias. This includes use of pacemakers to treat bradycardia, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) for tachycardia, heart failure and patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and cardiac ablation treatments to treat heart rhythm disorders.

The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare includes numerous algorithms for electrophysiology (EP). Jagmeet Singh, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and founding director of the Resynchronization and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics Program and Mass General Hospital, spoke with Cardiovascular Business at Heart Rhythm 2023 to explain how AI is being used in EP. #HRS2023 #HRS #AI

AI gaining popularity in electrophysiology

There are now numerous AI algorithms for electrophysiology. Jagmeet Singh, MD, examined how this advanced technology is being applied.

May 24, 2023
Tiny fragments of plastic are commonly found deep inside the human body. Heart surgery, it seems, is one of many ways these microplastics are reaching their destination.  Surgeons Operating On Patient

AI model predicts risk of post-operative AFib

Post-operative atrial fibrillation was once viewed as a fairly insignificant issue, but more recent research suggests it can increase a patient’s risk of multiple adverse events. 

February 3, 2023
The American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society issued a joint statement soon after CMS published its final rule for the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The groups warned that the final rule could threaten patient access to high-quality care. Medicare cuts may harm patient care.

Cardiologists, electrophysiologists ‘disappointed’ in final 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

The American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society issued a joint statement soon after CMS published its final rule for the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The groups warned that the final rule could threaten patient access to high-quality care. 

November 2, 2022
Dhanunjaya "DJ" Lakkireddy, MD, executive medical director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest Health, professor of medicine at the University of Missouri, Columbia, deputy editor for the the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation, and serves on the HRS Board of Trustees and section steering committee chair for the ACC, explains the potentially devastating impact of Medicare cuts on electrophysiology (EP) and patient care.

VIDEO: Medicare cuts could devastate the field of electrophysiology

"By imposing a 35%-42% cut, [CMS] has essentially created a scenario where it is going to destroy electrophysiology as a field," explained Dhanunjaya "DJ" Lakkireddy, MD.

October 4, 2022
Affera Inc Medtronic $925 million catheter ablation atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Medtronic completes acquisition of heart rhythm tech company in a deal reportedly worth $925M

Affera’s portfolio includes interventional solutions such as the Affera Prism-1 mapping and navigation platform, designed to help electrophysiologists diagnose heart rhythm issues, and the Sphere-9 cardiac ablation catheter. 

August 31, 2022
COVID-19 can have a serious impact effecting the heart during and after infection. The ACC released expert consensus decision pathway for the evaluation and management for the cardiovascular consequences of COVID infection and long-COVID, also known by its official clinical designation as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

COVID-19 repercussions on cardiac services will be with us for years to come

A new study reveals the damage caused to cardiovascular programs by the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to accrue unless mitigation strategies are implemented quickly. The review found a number of people dying are at home from heart conditions. 

June 6, 2022
A large proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) end up in emergency rooms (ERs), but there are inherent issues with most hospital ERs handing off these patients to electrophysiologists for followup care. The ER2EP Study presented at the 2022 HRS meeting found better results of there is an organized pathway for AF patients to follow. #AFib

New-look protocol boosts outcomes among AFib patients in the ER

A large proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) end up in emergency rooms (ERs), but there are inherent issues with most hospital ERs handing off these patients to electrophysiologists for follow-up care.

May 2, 2022
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and its associated leads viewed on a X-ray. Old leads are often abandon in veins and new ones added, but a new study of 1 million patients at ACC22 showed there is higher mortality if a device becomes infected and the leads are left behind. Image from RSNA.

VIDEO: Lowering mortality rates from infected EP implantable cardiac devices

Sean Pokorney, MD, director of the arrhythmia core lab, Duke Clinical Research Institute, assistant professor of Medicine, Duke University, discusses a late-breaking ACC 2022 study that shows mortality is higher in patients with implantable electrophysiology (EP) device infections where the leads are not explanted.

April 11, 2022

Around the web

The recall includes specific lots of five different medical devices used to treat stroke and other neurovascular diseases.

The agency is urging healthcare providers to transition away from these devices and seek out alternatives. It is even working with other manufacturers to try and get similar products on the market as quickly as possible. 

Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, one of the leading voices behind efforts to create a new Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about where things stand today.

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