In this next installment of EP Lab Digest’s monthly section “Sudden Death Update,” section editor Dr. Kathryn Glatter describes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which there is an excessive thickening of the heart muscle. In the article, she details the clinical features, genetic makeup, and treatment options available for this hard-to-diagnose form of sudden cardiac death.

We love to hear you brag about your EP labs! The following accounts were compiled from “Spotlight Interviews” published in EP Lab Digest between September 2001 to August 2004. The labs are located at various sites around the country. In addition, please note that the managers’ comments were edited slightly so as to focus solely on the achievements of the EP labs.

Background and rationale. In delivering the prestigious 107th Shattuck Lecture to the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Medical Society (17 May 1997), Dr. Eugene Braunwald warned of two emerging epidemics of cardiovascular disease.¹ One is atrial fibrillation (AF), now the most common cardiac arrhythmia, afflicting well over two million individuals in the United States alone.^1,2 Indeed, the number of hospital discharges for AF more than doubled from 111,000 in 1984 to 270,000 in 1994.¹ The prevalence of AF is likely to rise even more dramatically over the next several decades as the proportion of older individuals in the general population increases and as other non-cardiac risk factors for AF, such as diabetes mellitus, commensurately increase due to a worrisome rise in adult obesity.³

Readers, check below for the current email discussion question. In addition, I have included one of our previous questions below as well. Remember, it is never too late to send in your responses to questions from past issues. If you have information that may be helpful for our readers, email us at eplabdigest@hotmail.com or go to www.eplabdigest.com and click on the email discussion group link. Our website is constantly being updated with new responses, so check back often!

In this special question and answer section, provided by Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Winters describes his pharmacological approach for atrial fibrillation (AF) management, including the use of Rythmol SR^®.

In the first of this three-part section, we will be discussing a program that was put together by Cambridge Heart, Inc., on the topic of Microvolt T-Wave Alternans Testing. In his presentation, Dr. Costantini is going to be talking about the mechanism of action of Microvolt T-Wave Alternans.

Philips Medical Systems is currently seeking clearance to the FDA advisory panel to sell its HeartStart Home Defibrillator for over-the-counter AED home use. What does this mean for the future of public access defibrillation? Also, what are the concerns surrounding this decision? EP Lab Digest recently spoke with Wendy Katzman, Business Director, HeartStart Home Defibrillator at Philips, to find out more.

The prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital is the third oldest hospital in the U.S. and the largest in New England. The Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at MGH has enjoyed a 26-year history in the electrophysiology field, becoming one of the most recognized EP leaders in the world. In this interview, the EP lab staff describe the latest procedures and techniques being used at MGH.