The Riata Recall
- Fri, 1/27/12 - 12:02pm
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- 243 reads
On December 14, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified St. Jude Medical’s Riata defibrillator lead recall as a Class I recall, because of the “potential risk of serious injury or patient death if affected devices malfunction.”1
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: A Simple Idea Without a Simple Technique
- Wed, 12/28/11 - 4:36pm
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- 414 reads
There has been much interest in getting rid of the left atrial appendage (LAA) to prevent embolic strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. During cardiac surgery, it can be cut off, or excluded using staples, sutures, or a clamp-like device. It seems like surgery should be fairly definitive. However, it turns out that unless the LAA is completely removed, there is a surprisingly high rate of persistent communication between the LAA and the left atrium.
AF Ablation: Inside or Out?
- Thu, 12/1/11 - 10:53am
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- 392 reads
Dear Readers,
A 68-year-old woman with hypertension and medically-refractory, highly symptomatic recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) underwent a radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure involving wide area circumferential ablation with electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVs). She recovered well, but had three more episodes of persistent AF requiring cardioversion at 3, 4, and 5 months after the procedure. What next?
One Lead Forward, Two Leads Back
- Thu, 10/27/11 - 2:19pm
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- 584 reads
Dear Readers,
The year 1985 was a long time ago. Ronald Reagan was sworn into office for his second term as the President of the United States, and Mikhail Gorbachev became General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party. Microsoft, Inc. released Windows 1.0, and the Ford Motor Company sold its first Taurus. William Schroeder became the first patient to leave the hospital with an artificial heart, and the Food and Drug Administration approved the first blood test for AIDS.
Want to Reduce Health Care Costs? Raise the Bar for the Lawyers.
- Wed, 9/28/11 - 11:30am
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- 517 reads
Dear Readers,
There are several reasons behind the rising costs of health care. These factors include an aging population, excessive use of resources near end of life, the high cost of drugs, and increasing reliance on advanced technology. Another commonly cited source of rising health care costs is the current medical malpractice tort system.
Are the Number of Alternatives to Warfarin About to Sky “Rocket”?
- Tue, 8/30/11 - 2:32pm
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- 422 reads
Dear Readers,
The limitations of warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are well known. For this reason, the recent FDA approval and commercial availability of the new direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran (Pradaxa®, Boehringer Ingelheim), as an alternative to warfarin for patients with AF was embraced by many patients and health care providers.
The Temptation of a Single Vendor Cardiac Device Contract
- Thu, 7/28/11 - 8:27am
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- 1545 reads
Dear Readers,
There is increasing pressure on hospitals to reduce supply costs. Due to their high cost, implantable cardiac devices are frequently targeted by hospital administrators.
Staying on Your Toes in the EP Lab
- Thu, 6/30/11 - 3:11pm
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- 990 reads
Dear Readers,
The field of cardiac electrophysiology has evolved rapidly over the past 10 to 15 years as implantable devices and ablation procedures have become more complex, and as interventional electrophysiologists have had to continuously learn new techniques and adopt new technology. Therefore, it is critical that electrophysiologists maintain their skills.
Ten Commandments for EP Fellows
- Wed, 5/25/11 - 8:43am
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- 578 reads
Dear Readers,
As a service to all incoming clinical electrophysiology fellows starting around the country July 1st, 2011, the following “Ten Commandments” are offered as a guide to optimize the training experience:
Be a Good Doctor
#1: Take care of your patients, and take responsibility for your patients. Provide as much continuity of care as possible, follow up with every hospitalized patient on whom you have performed a procedure, and have a plan every morning until discharge.
New Ground for Ancient Artifacts
- Wed, 4/27/11 - 2:31pm
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- 612 reads
Anyone who has reviewed a cardiac rhythm strip is well aware that electrocardiographic artifact can mimic an arrhythmia. The literature is full of case reports, common sources, and various categorizations of artifact. However, new technologies that are capable of generating a recording of the electrical activity of the heart are continually being developed. Therefore, it is important to include this old problem of artifact in one’s differential diagnosis when interpreting tracings generated by even these new and improved technologies.
