News & Medical Papers
Advice from NICE supports improved commissioning for anticoagulation therapy for adults
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has today (14 May) issued updated support for commissioners to help them work with clinicians and managers to commission high-quality, evidence-based anticoagulation therapy for adults across England.
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Dual-Chamber ICDs May Be Overused
medpagetoday.com, 15 May 2013
Dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) dominate, perhaps undeservedly, among primary prevention patients without a clear need for pacing, a U.S. national registry study suggested.
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Costlier heart device may not be worth it
health24.com, 16 May 2013
A study shows that the dual-chamber implanted defibrillators may have more complications than single-chamber models.
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Systematic screening for atrial fibrillation 'better than routine GP practice'
Pulse, 14 May 2013
Systematic screening in GP practices for atrial fibrillation could identify more people with the disease than routine practice, according to a gold-standard review.
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New Data On Boston Scientific’s Atrial Fibrillation ‘Watchman’ Device Could Lift Outlook
trefis.com, 13 May 2013
Boston Scientific’s stock rallied over 5% on Thursday after the medical device maker released the much-awaited four-year follow-up data from the “PROTECT AF” clinical trial pertaining to its “Watchman” devices. In this new data, Watchman exhibited better efficacy over Warfarin in preventing death and strokes in atrial fibrillation patients.
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Oral anticoagulants less used in paroxysmal than persistent AF: NCDR data
theheart.org, 9 May 2013
Denver, CO - Cardiologists are significantly less likely to prescribe oral anticoagulation therapy for their patients with paroxysmal, compared with persistent, atrial fibrillation, despite similar thromboembolic risks associated with the two forms of AF, suggests an analysis based on data from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR).
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Program tweak cuts ICD pacing/shocks in broad population: ADVANCE 3
theheart.org, 7 May 2013
Chicago, IL - Implantable-cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) programmed with prolonged detection intervals cut the total number of delivered therapies in patients with either primary- or secondary-prevention devices in a large randomized trial [1].
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New Oral Anticoagulant Drugs: A Guide From European Society Of Cardiology
medicalnewstoday.com, 30 April 2013
A practical guide on the use of the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has been produced by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). A guide was needed to summarise existing information on different drugs, to answer clinical questions that fall outside what drug companies can legally answer, and to make distinctions between the different drugs.
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Insertion of a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator for prevention of sudden cardiac death (IPG454)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Insertion of a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator for prevention of sudden cardiac death.
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Fourteen-fold rise in use of alternatives to warfarin
pulse.co.uk, 18 April 2013
Exclusive GPs are increasingly prescribing the newer anticoagulant alternatives to warfarin for the prevention of stroke, although their uptake has been slower than expected due to cost concerns, Pulse can reveal.
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NICE Briefing: A new role for NICE in social care
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has a new name and new responsibilities to develop guidance and quality standards for social care in England.
Amiodarone associated with increased cancer risk in men
clinicaladvisor.com, 8 April 2013
Men taking the antiarrhythmia drug amiodarone (Nexterone), particularly those with extensive exposure, have an increased risk for cancer, study results indicate.
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Invitation to join NICE Quality and Outcomes Framework Advisory Committee
nice.org.uk
NICE is seeking new members to join its Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) Advisory Committee.
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Launch of Taking the Pulse report
Stroke is the third largest cause of death in England and costs the NHS £2.8 billion each year. AF is a known risk factor for stroke increasing its risk and severity. This report brings together, for the first time, data and evidence on variations that exist in the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for patients living with atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF related stroke.
Gender Differences In Symptoms And Care Of Irregular Heartbeats
medicalnewstoday.com, 13 March 2013
Women with atrial fibrilation have more symptoms and lower quality of life than men with the same heart condition, according to an analysis of patients in a large national registry compiled by the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
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PREVAIL yanked from ACC program; Watchman device meets safety end point
theheart.org, 10 March 2013
Preliminary data from the PREVAIL study of the Watchman (AtriTech/Boston Scientific) device for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular AF appear to give some reassurance on safety issues raised previously.
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AliveCor™ Mobile ECG Device for Heart Rhythm Monitoring Now Available by Prescription
businesswire.com, 8 March 2013
AliveCor announced today that its mobile Heart Monitor for iPhone is now available by prescription to enable patients to record their heart rhythm anytime, anywhere.
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"Alarming" use of unnecessary ECG monitors, ubiquitous, possibly harmful
theheart.org, 9 March 2013
Beeps, chirps, and alarms are the soundtracks of cardiac care units, but what if all that noise is harming, not helping, patient care?
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Appropriate Use Criteria For ICDs And CRT
medicalnewstoday.com, 4 March 2013
The American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society, along with key specialty societies, have released appropriate use criteria for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
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Resources for networks and senates
commissioningboard.nhs.uk
Clinical networks and senates will play a key role in the new commissioning system by providing clinical advice and leadership to support local decision making.
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Stepwise AF screening in the elderly
arwatch.co.uk, 28 February 2013
Stepwise risk factor-stratified atrial fibrillation (AF) screening in a 75-year old plus population yields a large share of candidates for oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment, according to a study1 published recently in Circulation.
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NICE seeks a Chair for Highly Specialised Technologies Evaluation Committee and a Chair for Technology Appraisal Committee
March 2013
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is looking to recruit candidates with the necessary experience, skills and abilities required to chair one of two advisory committees:
- Highly Specialised Technologies Evaluation Committee;
- Technology Appraisal Committee.
New stroke prevention treatment recommended by NICE
NICE, 27 February 2013
Hospital patientPatients with atrial fibrilation can now be offered apixaban (Eliquis) as an alternative to warfarin to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots, says NICE.
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FDA approves single-lead implantable cardiac defibrillator
cnet.com, 25 February 2013
The device comes with a cellular-based home monitoring system that allows physicians to detect a range of heart-related events, including silent arrhythmias.
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Medical Device Alert: Isoline implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads manufactured by Sorin Group Italia Srl (MDA/2013/007)
This Medical Device Alert has been issued as there is a risk of inappropriate shocking, pacing inhibition or shocking inhibition due to internal insulation abrasion when using Isoline implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads manufactured by Sorin Group Italia Srl.
Epidemiological study: Use of anticoagulants in the management of atrial fibrillation among general practices in England
nelm.nhs.uk, 7 February 2013
Despite the fact that anticoagulation is very effective in preventing strokes due to atrial fibrillation (AF), there is extensive evidence that anticoagulants (AC) remain underused. The Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (GRASP-AF) tool is a software suite based on the CHADS2 risk evaluation system, which searches general practice clinical information systems to enable practices to identify patients with a history of AF and review their individual risk profile.
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Assessment and treatment of patients with acute unstable bradycardia
Nursing Standard, 31 January 2013
Bradycardia is a slow heart rate that can lead to cardiac arrest or occur after initial resuscitation following cardiac arrest.
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Home A for opportunistically detecting atrial fibrillation during diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension (MTG13)
NICE Guidance issued: Jan 2013
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Antidepressant Contribution to Arrhythmia Risk Clarified
sciencedaily.com, 29 January 2013
A 2011 warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the popular antidepressant citalopram (Celexa) left many patients and physicians with more questions than answers.
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Most ICD patients know when they'd choose device deactivation, survey says
theheart.org, 28 January 2013
New Haven, CT - More than two-thirds of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) would want their device turned off under some circumstances, such as permanently impaired memory or having an incurable disease, suggests a survey analysis published online today in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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The next milestone in ICD therapy: Improving patient education
theheart.org, 28 January 2013
If you implant internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) and you care about how well patients understand their devices, you will be disappointed in the results of a study released today in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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New defibrillator saves lives without wires going into the heart
cleveland.com, 30 November 2012
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- People who have defibrillators implanted in their chests -- to kick-start their hearts when they go out of rhythm and stop pumping blood -- also have a wire or two that runs from the device to their heart to keep them alive.
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New anticoagulant approved by NICE
gponline.com, 23 January 2012
GPs have been handed another alternative to warfarin after NICE gave preliminary approval to a new treatment to prevent stroke in AF.
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Boston Scientific treats first patient in atrial fibrillation trial
equities.com, 18 January 2013
Boston Scientific Corporation, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices, has announced that the first patient has been treated in the ZERO AF clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Blazer open-irrigated temperature ablation catheter in patients with symptomatic, drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
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Computer model appears to predict LQTS risk
healio.com, 8 January 2013
A computer model designed to simulate repolarization successfully predicted clinical outcomes and improved risk stratification in patients with long QT syndrome type 1.
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Heart Device Follow-Up Still Low
dailyrx.com, 7 January 2013
Cardiovascular implantable electronic device follow-up improving but still lags.
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ICDs: Real World Life Savers
dailyrx.com, 6 January 2013
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients not in a clinical trial as likely to survive as those in a trial.
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Improved Programming of ICDs
New England Journal of Medicine, 13 December 2012
It can be simply stated that there are only two goals of most therapies: to help patients feel better or to help them live longer (or both).
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence seeks new members for its independent advisory committees on the use of health technologies
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is recruiting members to join its four independent advisory Appraisal Committees. The Appraisal Committees consider and interpret evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies and formulates recommendations on their use.
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St. Jude receives CE Mark approval of Assura portfolio of ICDs and CRT-Ds
equities.com, 14 December 2012
St. Jude Medical, Inc., a medical device company, has announced European CE Mark approval of the Assura portfolio of implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, or CRT-Ds.
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GRASP the initiative report
Our sister charity; the AF Association has launched the GRASP the initiative report. The report seeks to raise awareness of the GRASP-AF audit tool that is available as a free download for clinical staff working in primary care. With a nationwide rollout of GRASP-AF, 8000 AF strokes could be prevented in England each year, saving the NHS £96 million.
Apixaban Gets EU OK for Stroke Prevention in AF
medpagetoday.com, 21 November 2012
The European Commission, the European Union's equivalent to the FDA, has approved the use of apixaban (Eliquis) for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
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Cardio Notes: Lower Joules a Gem for ICDs
medpagetoday.com, 19 November 2012
It's early in their development, but the next wave in ICDs will rely on four or five less intense shocks rather than one big jolt. Also, improving libido by zapping renal nerves.
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Marks Better on In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
medpagetoday.com, 14 November 2012
Both survival and neurologic outcomes have improved in recent years for in-hospital cardiac arrests at centers participating in a quality-improvement registry, researchers found.
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Lower is better for cooling after cardiac arrest
theheart.org, 6 November 2012
Los Angeles, CA - A pilot trial examining which of two temperatures to use when cooling patients following a sudden cardiac arrest suggests that the lower one, 32°C (89.6°F), may improve outcomes compared with the higher, 34°C [1]. Dr Esteban López-de-Sá (La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain) reported the findings at a late-breaking trials-session here today at the American Heart Association 2012 Scientific Sessions.
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AHA: Mortality Odds Upped by Cardiac Re-Arrest
medpagetoday.com, 5 November 2012
LOS ANGELES -- Patients who experienced the loss of pulses after the successful return of spontaneous circulation were more likely to die at hospital discharge, researchers reported here.
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Cardiac arrhythmias: trials and tribulations
The Lancet, 27 October 2012
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Systems biology and cardiac arrhythmias
The Lancet, 27 October 2012
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Ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death
The Lancet, 27 October 2012
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Cardiac arrhythmias revisited
The Lancet, 27 October 2012
In this week's issue, ahead of the American Heart Association's annual meeting taking place this year on Nov 3 - 7 in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Do you know your Patient's pulse?
First FDA approved subcutaneous implantable defibrillator available for patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest
sacbee.com, 25 October 2012
CHICAGO - Northwestern's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute among the first in the county to perform procedure
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Implantable BioMonitor – Highest Precision in Monitoring Arrhythmias
onlinetmd.com, 16 October 2012
BIOTRONIK executives announce the European market release of BioMonitor, a unique implantable cardiac device designed for the highly accurate and reliable monitoring and management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or unexplained syncope.
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Stop & Start Campaign Meetings taking place throughout the UK
To be held between 30 October and 6 December 2012.
If you are a GP or a practice nurse responsible for the delivery of the new QOF in cardiovascular and stroke medicine matters, these meetings are for you.You will gain greater understanding of the latest evidence behind the QOF indicators for AF, practical insights and top tips for your own practice.
Implantable Devices Are Not a Luxury
HealthNewsDigest.com, 20 October 2012
Implantable devices for treating cardiac arrhythmias, which include ICD’s, are underused in parts of Europe. Conclusions of the ICD for Life Summit held in Belgrade, Serbia.
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Acute supraventricular tachycardia in children
Emergency Nurse, 1 October 2012
Siba Paul and colleagues present a case study to explain the best form of treatment for children with a common form of cardiac arrhythmia.
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Clinical Review - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
British Medical Journal, 6 October 2012
Cardiorespiratory arrest is the most extreme medical emergency - death or permanent brain injury will ensue unless cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is started within minutes.
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S-ICD matches control, but not previous trials, in case-control series
theheart.org, 5 October 2012
Münster, Germany - In the largest case-control series to date, the fully subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD, Cameron Health/Boston Scientific) matched the safety and performance of standard transvenous devices but demonstrated a 10.4% failure of conversion of induced VF [1].
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AHA: Don't overlook psychosocial issues with ICDs
theheart.org, 24 September 2012
Atlanta, GA - Important outcomes with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) will improve if clinicians become more skilled at providing psychosocial support for ICD patients and their families, according to a new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACCN)[1].
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The burden of inappropriate shocks in young people and how to avoid them
Heart, 30 September 2012
Implicated in up to half of all cardiovascular mortality among developed nations worldwide, sudden cardiac death (SCD) is associated with approximately 450,000 deaths annually in the USA.
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FIFA Women's World Cup 2011: Pre-Competition Medical Assessment of female referees and assistant referees
British Journal of Sport's Medicine, September 12 2012
Background Precompetition screening was implemented for male referees during the 2010 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Word Cup.
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MHRA - Medical Device Alerts: Medical Device Alert: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads Manufactured by St Jude Medical (MDA/2012/061)
11 September 2012
This Medical Device Alert has been issued as there is a risk of inappropriate shock or therapy failure due to wear of lead insulation when using implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads manufactured by St Jude Medical. These patient follow-up recommendations replace those given previously in MDA/2010/095 and MDA/2011/112.
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Introduction for BJC antiarrhythmics Position Statement
The British Journal of Cardiology
The Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) from the European Society of Cardiology (European Heart Journal 2010,;31: 2369–2429) outline five objectives for the clinical management of AF.
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Translating regulatory advice into practice: use of dronedarone and older anti-arrhythmics in AF management
BJC Online, September 2012
There is a lack of clarity around the current use of anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs), highlighted by the recent changes to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations for dronedarone use...
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Biotronik launches new ICD risk stratification study
zenopa.com, 5 September 2012
Biotronik has announced the launch of a new clinical trial that aims to identify new risk factors that can help predict appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) interventions in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy who have received an ICD for primary prevention.
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RE-LY: Dabigatran bleeding-related gene variant could herald personalized dosing
theheart.org, 3 September 2012
Munich, Germany - A follow-up subanalysis of the most influential atrial-fibrillation (AF) trial of dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim), an oral antithrombin alternative to warfarin, identified a common gene variant that seems to influence the bleeding risk associated with the drug but not its antithrombotic efficacy.
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European Society of Cardiology updates AF guidelines
theheart.org, 26 August 2012
Dr John Mandrola outlines the key changes to watch out for at ESC 2012, including prescription of new oral anticoagulants, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and apixaban; reducing the use of aspirin as a blood thinner; and a new risk-assessment tool.
Boehringer, Bayer Blood Thinners Backed for Arrhythmia
Businessweek.com, 25 August 2012
New blood thinners from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH and Bayer AG (BAYN) should be used to prevent stroke in patients with a common irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, the European Society of Cardiology recommended.
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ESC analysis reveals arrhythmia treatment gaps between Eastern and Western Europe
Medical Xpress, 29 August 2012
The analysis was conducted using five editions of the EHRA White Book, which is produced by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
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Don't cut lifesaving ICDs during financial crisis, ESC warns
Medical Xpress, 29 August 2012
Implantable devices for treating cardiac arrhythmias, which include ICDs, are already underused in parts of Eastern and Central Europe and there is a risk that the financial crisis could exacerbate the problem.
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ICDs Boosted Survival in Real-World Trial
medpagetoday.com, 24 August 2012
Real-world primary prevention using implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) conferred a significant survival benefit for patients at risk for sudden cardiac death, Canadian researchers found.
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Lumax 740 defibrillator gets its first use in the US
Medical Industry Week, 20 August 2012
The first patient in the US has been implanted with Biotronik's Lumax 740 dual-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
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The multifaceted cardiac sodium channel and its clinical implications
Heart, 1 September 2012
Sudden cardiac death (SCD), defined as death from a cardiac cause occurring shortly after the onset of symptoms, is most often due to an organic cardiac abnormality such as coronary artery disease or structural heart disease.
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US FDA recommends X-ray or other imaging techniques on implanted heart defibrillators with St. Jude Medical Riata leads to help treatment plans
pharmabiz.com, 17 August 2012
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that patients who have implantable heart defibrillators with Riata1 and Riata ST leads, manufactured by St. Jude Medical, should have X-rays or other imaging alternatives to check for abnormalities in the insulation surrounding the lead, which is a wire attached to the device that is inserted into the heart.
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A-A pays tribute to Dr Aubrey Leatham
We would like to pay tribute to Dr Aubrey Leatham who has died aged 91 on 7 August 2012. Dr Leatham won the Lifetime Achievement Award at HRC in 2009. He is listed on PubMed as a “real cardiology pioneer from the 20th Century” and this is no understatement. After establishing a cardiac unit at St George’s Hospital London in the early 1950s, he and his team successfully designed the first heart pacemaker in 1955. A great man, instrumental in the development of a lifesaving device.
Biotronik trial evaluates cost-effectiveness of Home Monitoring in ICD/CRT-D patients
Medical Industry Week
The first CRT-D patient has been enrolled in Biotronik's EuroEco trial, a European Health Economic Trial on Home Monitoring in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy device (CRT-D) patients.
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ICDs have contributed to the reduction in ventricular fibrillation out of hospital cardiac arrests
cxvascular.com, 8 August 2012
A study published ahead of print in Circulation shows that the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) may be partly responsible for the reduction in the number of ventricular fibrillation out of hospital cardiac arrests.
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Guest Post: An Electrophysiologist Looks At The New HRS/ACCF Pacemaker Guidelines
forbes.com, August 2nd 2012
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with significant LV outflow obstruction was given a Class IIa indication for DDD pacing.
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Healthcare professionals required to join NICE GDG on acute heart failure
Both full Guideline Development Group members and co-opted expert advisers are required. Closing date for applications is 17.00 on Friday 17th August 2012
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Cardio Notes: Scarred Heart Bad for ICDs
medpagetoday.co.uk, July 30th 2012
Left ventricular scarring may be a better determinant for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) candidacy than a low ejection fraction. Also this week, athletes with long QT syndrome and using light to stop erratic heart rhythms.
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Clinical Research Fellow (cardiology)
Applications are invited for this exciting opportunity, sponsored by Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), to conduct a research project in order to gain a higher research degree (MDres or PhD).
The successful applicant will undertake research, under the supervision of Professor Sanjay Sharma and/or Dr Elijah Behr, in inherited cardiac diseases or sports cardiology. He/she will also support CRY research and screening services, as well as receive clinical training in the management of inherited heart diseases and cardiac arrhythmias.
Heart, Infective endocarditis caused by cardiac devices
The number of electronic cardiac devices, including pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators being implanted each year is increasing.
Arrhythmia Alliance-Argentina welcomes grant from the Rotary Foundation
Arrhythmia Alliance Argentina has received a matching grant from the Rotary Foundation. The grant will help the charity meet its goal to promote awareness of sudden cardiac death through the education of 20,000 people over the course of the next twelve months.
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Boston Scientific S-ICD® System Named Most Innovative Product at Cardiostim 2012
S-ICD® System selected as most innovative in the field of Electrophysiology and CardiacTechniques.
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The Economist - Medical implants, a sweet idea
Researchers are trying to harness glucose - the body's own fuel - to power implantable gadgets such as pacemakers.
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theheart.org - Leadless technology may free pacing and ICDs from transvenous "tethers"
Nice, France - The next "disruptive" technology in pacemaker and ICD technology may be devices that do not have any transvenous leads or perhaps no leads at all.
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British Journal of Hospital Medicine - Electrophysiology and ablation of arrhythmias
Major advances in diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias have created the subspeciality of cardiac electrophysiology
Boston Scientific Closes Cameron Health Acquisition
Adds first and only commercially available subcutaneous ICD technology that offers new life saving therapy option to patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
British Journal of Cardiology - Pacemaker complications in a district general hospital
Pacemakers are being implanted with increasing frequency. As with every procedure, there is the potential for complications.
DECIDE Survey on public awareness of NICE clinical guidelines and their implementation
Executive Summary
Asking, are NICE guidelines of help? Do patients access them, act upon a guideline or receive improved patient care as a result? This executive summary considers the responses.
Irish Medical Times - Clinical update on falls and syncope
The most common reasons for emergency room attendances among people aged over 75 are falls and syncope — short periods of “temporary and self-limited loss of consciousness”, due to low brain blood flow. These are significant because of the potentially fatal cardiac causes that underlie them, Prof Rose-Anne Kenny, Head of the Department of Gerontology at TCD, said.
Heart - Underdrive pacing to terminate ventricular tachycardia
An 81 year old man was admitted in haemodynamically stable monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Heart - The clinical management of relatives of young sudden unexplained death victims; implantable defibrillators are rarely indicated
Objective - Following national guidance on management of sudden unexplained death (SUD) in the young, inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) clinics were established to identify and treat relatives thought to be at increased risk.
Heart - Long term outcomes following infection of cardiac implantable electronic devices
Objective - To assess the long term outcomes and predictors of morality in patients treated according to current recommendations for cardiac implantable electronic device infection.
Heart - An active solution to a slippery problem: implanting CRT-D via a persistent left SVC
A 70 year old lady with dilated cardiomyopathy was transferred to our hospital after a ventricular (VF) cardiac arrest for the implantation of a biventricular defibrillator.
Medical Device Alert: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) manufactured by Medtronic (MDA/2012/014)
Practical Nurse - Understanding Electrocardiography
Knowing how to interpret an ECG and to interpret, at least at a basic level, is an essential part of practice nursing.
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CMJ - Clinical coding for electrophysiology and device procedures: why and how to get it right
Clinical and nonclinical codes are used to nationally agreed tariffs that are charged to the primary care trust for every patient intervention.
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Wall Street Journal - FDA Sees Higher Infection Rate In Study Of New Type Of Heart Defibrillator
The Food and Drug Administration Monday said patients receiving a new type of heart defibrillator being developed by Cameron Health Inc. had higher rates of infection compared to rates seen with traditional implantable defibrillators and sometimes delivered "inappropriate" shocks to the heart.
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Medical Industry Week - First patient receives SJM Accent MRI pacemaker in IDE study
The first implant has taken place in St Jude Medical's Accent pacemaker and Tendril MRI lead IDE study (MRI study)
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Medical Industry Week - SJM awarded CE mark for smaller ICD
St Jude Medical has received CE mark approval for the Ellipse implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Designed with feedback from more than 200 physicians worldwide, the Ellipse ICD is intended to provide the benefits of advanced features and power in the industry's smallest high-energy ICD.
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Nursing Times - How enhanced recovery can boost patient outcomes
The enhanced recovery approach is being used in many surgical and emergency specialiites with benefits in both reduced length of stay and improved patient experience.
Clinical Medical Journal - Clinical coding for electrophysiology and device procedures
Clinical and nonclinical codes are used to generate nationally agreed tarriffs that are charged to the primary care trust for every patient intervention
St. Jude Medical gets EU approval for new smaller heart device
St. Jude Medical announced Monday that it has won regulatory approval from the European Union to market a smaller implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
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St Jude: Retract "Riata deaths" journal report
Taking an unusual step, St Jude Medical is urging [1] the peer-reviewed journal Heart Rhythm to retract a report it published about two weeks ago [2], alleging it contains "inaccurate facts" and "biased analysis" regarding deaths associated with the company's Riata and Riata ST implantable defibrillator leads. It also challenged the very data used in the analysis, which was taken from the FDA Manufacturers and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database.
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BMJ - Minerva
A US programme to encourage hospitals to "Get with the Guidelines-Heart Failure" implemented in January 2005 has increased the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators for patients with heart failure and poor ventricular function across all sex and race groups.
The Heart - Sudden cardiac death and inherited channelopathy: the basic electrophysiology of the myocyte and myocardium in ion channel disease
Mutations involving cardiac ion channels result in abnormal action potential formation or propagation, leading to cardiac arrhythmias.
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Pharmaceutical Journal - Warfarin findings may delay switch to newer oral agents
A significant reduction in strokes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) over the past 20 years is linked to improved warfarin management, according to a large meta-analysis of studies published online this week in Archives of Internal Medicine
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Arrhythmic risk can stay elevated even after improved LVEF
Patients due for elective replacement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) they had received when their LVEF was <35% remain at risk for serious ventricular arrhythmias even if their LVEF has since improved to >35%, suggests a retrospective cohort study presented here at the American College of Cardiology 2012 Scientific Sessions
Medical Industry week - MTWA helps predict SCA events
A new study published on-line in the Heart Rhythm Journal has shown that Cambridge Heart's Microvolt T-Wave Alternans (MTWA) test is a statistically significant predictor of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in patients whose heart muscle is damaged (ejection fraction = <35 percent), as well as in patients with more preserved cardiac function (ejection fraction > 35 per cent). The data was extracted from a pooled analysis of 2,883 patients.
British Journal of Hospital Medicine - Inherited arrhythmia syndrome
Inherited arrhythmia syndromes are an important contributor to sudden death in children and adults. These cardiac 'channelopathies' lead to arrhythmias in a structurally normal myocardium and are often variable in penetrance and expressivity. The clinical features and management options for the four major channelopathies are outlned.
The Heart - Implantation of an azygeous vein coil to facilitate defibrillation
A Medtronic Concerto II cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) device was implanted in a 56-year-old man with left ventricular non-compaction without complication.
The Heart - Subclinical atrial fibrillation significantly increases stroke risk
Approximately 25% of all strokes are of an unknown cause, and it has long been hypothesised that short subclinical episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be an important common aetiological factor.
General Practitioner - Understanding Pacemaker Interference
There are more than 240,000 people in the UK and more than 3m worldwide who have been fitted with pacemakers for diagnosed cardiac problems.
Irish Medical Times - Clinician collaboration with industry of benefit to all
Much collaboration is being carried out in the Galway region to encourage linkups between clinicians and industry in the development of medical devices.
BIOTRONIK announces the world’s first MRI Conditional ICD series
The Lancet - Case Report: A Lethal Injection?
Next generation sequencing for clinical diagnostics and personalised medicine
New MHRA website home page
EaSyAs II boosts role for implantable loop recorder
An implantable loop recorder (ILR) with remote monitoring is a safe and cost-effective approach to investigating recurrent unexplained syncope and diagnosing its underlying cause.
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Aspirin should not be used for stroke prevention in AF patients
More evidence that aspirin is neither safe nor effective for the prevention of stroke in AF patients has come from a new Danish r