EP Lab Digest Current Issue

The AF Stat National Initiative: Bringing Atrial Fibrillation Concerns to the Forefront

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:35 -0400

In this interview we speak with Eric Prystowsky, MD about the AF Stat™: A Call to Action for Atrial Fibrillation (AF Stat). Dr. Prystowsky is the AF Stat Medical Chair and director of the Clinical Electrophysiology Laboratory at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

Tell us about AF Stat™: A Call to Action for Atrial Fibrillation. Why was it important to form this national initiative?

EP 101: Case Studies (Part 2)

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:43:13 -0400

In another installment of EP Lab Digest’s EP 101 series, the authors present three new case overviews, then ask readers to test their knowledge in EP by answering questions about each case.

Case #1:

A 27-year-old female underwent electrophysiology (EP) study for symptomatic palpitations. During the EP study, a single high right atrial premature extrastimulus (S1S2 coupling interval = 300 msec) following a 400 msec drive train demonstrated a “jump” in the AV nodal function curve and initiated a narrow complex tachycardia.

Spotlight Interview: Deborah Heart and Lung Center

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:03:36 -0400

What is the size of your EP lab facility? What is the mix of credentials at your lab?

Deborah has just expanded and built an entire electrophysiology suite consisting of a six-bed admission/recovery area and three labs. Construction was just completed on the three new labs. The first has a biplane Siemens fluoroscopy system and will primarily be utilized for complex ablation procedures and device implants. The second is a single-plane Siemens fluoroscopy room primarily utilized for device implantation. The third and final lab is equipped with Siemens fluoroscopy as well as a Stereotaxis system, and will be used for complex ablation procedures.

Our lab staff consists of eight Registered Nurses (RNs), two licensed Practical Nurses, two Cardiovascular Techs, and one Radiology Tech.

When was EP started at your institution?

10-Minute Interview: Peter Spector, MD

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:18:34 -0400

Dr. Spector is a Professor of Medicine and Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont.

Tell us about your medical background and how you came to work in the field of electrophysiology. What interested you about this field?

EP Online: New Resources for the Cardiac Professional

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:25:03 -0400

In this article, Dr. S. Venkatesan tells us about some of the online projects he is working on. Dr. Venkatesan is the Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Madras Medical College in Chennai, India.

What were your reasons for starting the blog at “http://drsvenkatesan.wordpress.com/”? When and why was it launched?

Even though my primary work involves patient care, I have always been fascinated by the scientific literature coming out of various sources. In India, especially working in a governmental institution, it has been difficult to publish in major journals.

Diabetes and Atrial Fibrillation

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:44:52 -0400

Tell us about the ADVANCE study. How many patients were included? What was the purpose of this study?

ADVANCE is the largest clinical trial conducted to date in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The objective was to determine the effects of routine blood pressure lowering (regardless of initial BP level) and of intensive blood glucose control on vascular outcomes in these patients. The study included 11,140 patients from 20 countries, who were followed for an average of 4.3 years (for the BP lowering arm) and 5 years (for the blood glucose arm). The main findings of the trial were that routine blood pressure lowering significantly reduced the risks of vascular events and cardiovascular death. Intensive glucose control reduced the risks of microvascular events (particularly nephropathy), but did not significantly reduce the risks of macrovascular events (MI, stroke or cardiovascular death).

Email Discussion Group: July 2009

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:47:12 -0400

Education & Training Survey

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:01:02 -0400

Please click here to view PDF

Current Procedural Terminology Coding in Electrophysiology: Focus on 2009 Updates

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:53:11 -0400

ABSTRACT: This article highlights the major changes in the current procedural terminology codes (CPT codes) that were announced by the American Medical Association in January 2009. These new CPT codes were developed to more accurately reflect current cardiac device monitoring capabilities, long-distance telemetry and remote interrogation as well as follow-up practices. Some of these new code sets are structured differently than the CPT codes that they replace. Specifically, the new codes for remote monitoring do not have separate professional (-26) and technical components (-TC) applied to an individual code. Instead, the new remote monitoring codes have separate CPT codes that represent the professional and technical components. The new device programming codes are generally defined by the number of leads, rather than the type of generator. Also, the period of time included in the specific type of service is indicated as per encounter, 30 or 90 days.

Highlights from the Heart Rhythm Society’s Pocket Guide “Practical Rate and Rhythm Management of Atrial Fibrillation”

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:27:03 -0400

Dear Readers,

In May of this year, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) published a pocket guide entitled “Practical Rate and Rhythm Management of Atrial Fibrillation.” It was distributed during the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Summit of the Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston. Adapted from the ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, it summarizes key points related to the evaluation and management of AF, includes a dosing guide of commonly used drugs to treat AF, and provides a flow diagram of antiarrhythmic drug selection. Because HRS has previously published two pocket guides related to AF, one covering surgical and catheter ablation and another covering anticoagulation, the main focus of this guide was rate and rhythm control.