April 2004

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Volume 4 Issue 4

Editorial Staff

Clinical Editor
Bradley Knight, MD
Executive Editor
Laurie Gustafson
Managing Editor
Jodie Elrod
Production Manager
Alexa Flinn

Editorial Correspondence

Jodie Elrod, Managing Editor, EP Lab Digest
HMP Communications, 70 E. Swedesford Rd
Suite 100, Malvern PA 19355
Telephone: (800) 371-0791

Fax: (866) 488-8273
Email: jelrod@hmpglobal.com
Treating Atrial Fibrillation: 2004What have we learned?
Dear readers, How have treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF) changed over the years? An estimated 2 million Americans suffer from AF. Much news has been coming out on this topic, including its relation to anger to a new finding that shows b…
Email Discussion Group
This month, we feature four interesting questions for discussion. Our first reader would like to know about resources for preparing for the NASPExAM this May. Our second reader continues the discussion with anesthesia in ICD cases by asking about gui…
The Role of Specialized Monitoring Technologies in Improving Patient Care
The all-digital Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City takes many steps in making things easier for the staff in the cath and EP labs. Perhaps you will be able to apply some of their techniques to your EP lab! The Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklaho…
Apr-04
Biventricular Pacing Should be the Preferred Mode of Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Patients who Undergo AV Node Ablation Biventricular pacing should be the preferred mode of therapy in chronic atrial fibrillation patients undergoing atrioventricul…
The RAFT Trial: Efficacy and Safety of Sustained-Release Propafenone (Propafenone SR) for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
An
In this interview, Dr. Reiffel discusses the recent findings of the Rythmol Atrial Fibrillation Trial (RAFT). The RAFT trial studied a new sustained-release formation of propafenone (propafenone SR), and found that the frequency of symptomatic arrhyt…
A Look at the NASPE Expert Consensus Statement on Resynchronization Therapy for Heart Failure
NASPE-Heart Rhythm Society issued an Expert Consensus Statement in December of 2003 entitled Resynchronization Therapy for Heart Failure.1 This work was the culmination of dialogue which took place at NASPE 2003. This document represents the combined…
Successful Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation on ECMO in a Child with Double Tachycardia and Severe Cardiomyopathy
Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy is a well known phenomenon in the pediatric population.1 However, at presentation, the coexistence of an incessantly elevated heart rate and ventricular dysfunction often sparks a chicken and egg debate. Determining…
Veno-Atrial Antral Ablations Achieve Comparable Early Success Rates to Electroanatomical Left Atrial Ablations for Treating Paro
Atrial fibrillation is a serious clinical problem with major morbidities. Recently, ablation of both paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation has become an effective therapy for many patients with this arrhythmia. Ablation has become an effectiv…
Medical City Heart
The EP program at Medical City Heart has a dedicated crew. Their healthcare is recognized on local, national and international levels. In fact, they are the North Texas leader in cardiac resynchronization therapy, and they were one of the first EP la…
10-Minute Interview:
Renzo M. Cataldo, MD
Arizona Arrhythmia Consultants
Phoenix, Arizona
Dr. Cataldo has been at Arizona Heart Institute (AHI) since 2001. AHI is known for many of its milestones, including being the first hospital in the world to offer the Powerheart fully automatic external cardioverter defibrillators and also the first…