August 2012

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Volume 12 Issue 8

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
EP News
BioControl Medical Gets Nod to Begin Second Phase of the INOVATE-HF Study of its CardioFit SystemBioControl Medical has announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to begin the second phase of INOVATE-HF (INcrease Of VAgal TonE in Heart Fail…
The ASSERT Trial – Another Example of Less is More
There is some evidence that atrial overdrive pacing can prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with a permanent pacemaker. However, most of the studies that have shown a benefit were modest in size, included patients with a history of prior AF,…
Implantation of an Intracardiac Defibrillator and BiV ICD with Near-Zero Fluoroscopy and No Contrast: Case Report
Fluoroscopy is commonly used in many cardiovascular procedures such as pacemaker and defibrillator implantation. During implantation, the leads for intracardiac defibrillator devices are guided through the introducer under fluoroscopic observation to…
The Use of a Force-Sensing Catheter for Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in a Congenital Pediatric Patient
IntroductionNowadays, catheter ablation has a very important role for the treatment of many arrhythmias. During the ablation procedure, the ablation catheter usually reaches the endocardium, although recently even the epicardial space has been approa…
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Heart Failure: Investigational Approach Takes Aim at the Drivers of HF Progression
IntroductionCongestive heart failure (CHF) is a major worldwide problem, and the incidence is increasing. Chronic heart failure symptoms with reduced ejection fraction, despite optimal drug therapy, are a significant cause of hospitalization and mort…
Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Ligation and Exclusion as an Alternative Stroke Prevention in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and a source of considerable morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of AF is estimated at 1% of the population older than 60 years,1 and it increases with age, affecting 10% of people o…
Music and Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
BackgroundResearch has documented many positive physiological and emotional effects when listening to music. The use of music to improve health is a concept that dates back to about the sixth century when the Greek philosopher Pythagoras believed tha…
Spotlight Interview: Prairie Heart Institute
The Prairie Heart Institute (PHI) combines the 55-member Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants with St. John’s Hospital and is based in Springfield, Illinois’ capital city. St. John’s is a 500-bed tertiary care referral facility, one of 13 member-hospit…
Cultivating a Culture of Excellence in a Shared EP/Cath Lab
“How do you fight the boredom?!” I commonly heard that question a decade ago from an interventional cardiologist as he would pass through the EP lab, where I toiled as an EP fellow. His quip stemmed from the inherent differences between the electrop…
Integrated Care Strategies on the Clinical Outcome in CRT Patients: Interview with Mary Orencole, MS, NP, Robert Altman, MD, and Stephanie Moore, MD
Tell us about the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) CRT clinic and its background. Why was it important to integrate multidisciplinary care for your CRT patients?Orencole: The MGH Multidisciplinary CRT clinic was established in 2005 to incorporate…