Heart Rhythm Society

Tuesday May 10 2011

• Afib Ablation With JET Works

  SAN FRANCISCO — A ventilation technique borrowed from pediatrics appears to improve catheter stability in atrial fibrillation ablation, especially among sicker patients, one university center found.

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Monday May 9 2011

• Society Gets Criticism Over Industry Money

  SAN FRANCISCO — An investigative report blasted the Heart Rhythm Society meeting here as being awash in industry advertising dollars at the same time that the society released a guidance document on industry relations to its members.

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• PC Docs Lag in Warfarin Prescriptions

  SAN FRANCISCO — Large differences exist between primary and specialty care in warfarin treatment after new-onset atrial fibrillation, possibly signifying a quality gap, according to TREAT-AF investigators.

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Sunday May 8 2011

• Watchman without Warfarin Appears Safe

  SAN FRANCISCO — The combination of aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) after implantation of a left atrial appendage closure device may be an option in patients who are contraindicated to warfin, according to preliminary data.

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• Afib Ablation May Scale Back Stroke Risk

  SAN FRANCISCO — With no clear randomized evidence, registry data show that successful ablation for atrial fibrillation eases symptoms and is suggestive of reduced stroke and mortality risks, according to a pooled study.

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• Statins Don't Suppress Afib After Ablation

  SAN FRANCISCO — Starting statins after ablation for atrial fibrillation doesn't help prevent arrhythmia recurrence, researchers affirmed in a randomized trial.

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• CRT Boosts Post-Ablation Outcomes for Permanent AFib

  SAN FRANCISCO — Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may go one step beyond single-ventricle pacing for improving outcomes after atrioventricular junction ablation for permanent atrial fibrillation, particularly in patients who fall outside current guidelines, according to results of a randomized trial.

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• CAFE Afib Study Sparks Debate

  SAN FRANCISCO — Point ablation of atrial fibrillation triggers outside the pulmonary vein may actually worsen outcomes if done by a low-power, automated selection process, researchers found.

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• PRELUDE Offers Hope for Brugada Risk Stratification

  SAN FRANCISCO — Electrical stimulation in patients with Brugada syndrome is not predictive of cardiac events, but researchers identified new risk indicators that could better triage higher risk patients to receive implantable defibrillation therapy.

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• School-Wide ECG Screening Feasible

  SAN FRANCISCO — A program that screened all students at a Chicago-area school for heart problems was clinically successful, but drew criticism for its broad scope and expected costs.

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Saturday May 7 2011

• Silent Arrhythmias Arise After Afib Ablation

  SAN FRANCISCO — Discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy based on patient-reported symptoms may not be as clear cut as is believed, according to high asymptomatic event rates found in an objective monitoring trial.

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Friday May 6 2011

• Increase in Implanted Devices Changes Rules for Surgery

  SAN FRANCISCO — When patients who have an implantable electronic cardiac device need surgery, the device has to be considered as well as the operative procedure, and that requires a multidisciplinary approach, the head of the guideline writing team explains in this exclusive InFocus audio report.

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• Mapping Tool Boosts Afib Ablation Outcomes

  SAN FRANCISCO — A novel mapping system that can identify small focal points of atrial fibrillation electrical activation in the atrium helps improve outcomes in those undergoing conventional pulmonary vein ablation.

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• Consider All Types of Exercise in AED Placement

  SAN FRANCISCO — Bowling alleys, dance studios, and other places people exert themselves outside the gym shouldn't be overlooked in rolling out automated external defibrillators, researchers warned.

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Thursday May 5 2011

• Afib Ablation Works, Knowledge Gaps Persist

  SAN FRANCISCO — The use of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has skyrocketed in the last few years, and for good reason. It works, as far as studies have shown, but more studies are needed to fill in crucial knowledge gaps, according to a presentation here.

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• Endoscopic Laser Balloon Ablates Afib

  SAN FRANCISCO — Using a visually-guided laser balloon catheter, researchers achieved a high rate of persistent pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

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• No Need to Stop Anticoagulants for Device Implants

  SAN FRANCISCO — Avoiding a break in anticoagulation for cardiac device implantation may be safe for high-risk patients and get them home sooner with fewer complications, a single-center registry suggested.

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• Novel SubQ ICD Holds Up in Practice

  SAN FRANCISCO — A novel cardioverter-defibrillator implanted just beneath the skin without the traditional lead wires into the heart remains promising even after longer clinical experience, Dutch researchers reported.

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Monday May 2 2011

• Ingenuity Sets Pace in Rhythm Management

  SAN FRANCISCO — Innovation and disruptive technology will headline the Heart Rhythm Society meeting here.

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