Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology
Apple Watch Series 4 Receives FDA Approval as a Class II Medical Device
The Apple watch series 4 received FDA approval as a class II medical device. Apple claims that the device can detect falls and arrhythmias. It can also record an electrocardiogram (ECG) in 30 seconds “anytime and anywhere,” according to Apple. Continue reading
Catheter Ablation vs Medical Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation CABANA TRIAL
The CABANA trial has demonstrated that catheter ablation is not superior to medical therapy for cardiovascular (CV) outcomes at 5 years, among patients with new-onset or untreated atrial fibrillation (AF) that require therapy. This was presented by Douglas Packer (Mayo Clinic) at the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) 2018.
Can a Smartphone Camera Detect Atrial Fibrillation?
An original study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association aimed at finding a novel method for screening patients for atrial fibrillation (AF) using an iPhone. It evaluated the use of the smartphone application ‘Cardiio Rhythm’ in detecting AF by using no physical contact facial photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals. Continue reading
Predictors of Device Related Thrombosis After Transcatheter Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion
In a recent study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, Pracon et al. suggested that the incidence of device related thrombosis (DRT) among patients undergoing percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion is related to patient (history of thromboembolic events and lower left ventricular ejection fraction) and procedural (deep implantation and larger occluder size) characteristics.
Do Procedure and Coronary Lesion Characteristics Impact Clinical Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Undergoing PCI?
According to a post-hoc analysis of the PIONEER AF-PCI trial that was recently published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, there was no impact of complex coronary lesions, stent characteristics, or vascular approach on efficacy or safety outcomes among stented atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who received either rivaroxaban or Vitamin K Antagonists (VKA)-based dual or triple therapy. Continue reading
VEST: Wearable cardiac defibrillator decreases mortality post MI
The first randomized trial of the Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) was conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Olgin and his colleagues from the University of California and presented at the ACC 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The trial showed that prescribing the WCD was reasonable to protect high-risk patients with a low LVEF (Left ventricular ejection fraction) post-MI until evaluation for an ICD at 40-90 days.
Novel Echo Markers In Stroke Risk Stratification In AFib
The assessment of left atrial reservoir strain and P-wave to A’ duration on tissue Doppler imaging provides additional risk stratification for stroke after initial CHA2DS2-VASc scoring, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal, and may prove helpful in guiding decisions about anticoagulation for patients after the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Continue reading
MRI Safe in Patients with Legacy Cardiac Devices
The use of MRI resulted in no long-term clinically significant adverse events in patients with legacy cardiac devices and only 1 in 200 patients experienced a power-on reset of the cardiac device, according to a recent publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Continue reading
