May 13th, 2013
Novel Leadless Pacemaker Makes Debut at HRS 2013
Larry Husten, PHD
First results in human patients of a novel leadless pacemaker were presented last week at the HRS meeting in Denver by Vivek Reddy. Pacemaker leads are the most common source of complications associated with pacemakers today. The self-contained device is delivered via catheter to the right ventricle, to which it is attached with a fixation mechanism. The device […]
May 13th, 2013
Things I found at HRS 2013: Education, Science, Friends, and Mentors
Sandeep K Goyal, MD
Looking back at the knowledge gained and friendships kindled at HRS 2013, this Fellow looks forward to HRS 2014.
May 13th, 2013
Blogging at HRS 2013: From The FIT Lounge, Insights From Douglas Zipes About Publishing
Sandeep K Goyal, MD
I finally managed to walk to the Fellows in Training lounge, hoping to connect with some co-fellows. I did find lot of fellows, but to my surprise Dr. Zipes was there and ready to answer burning questions about getting published.
May 12th, 2013
How Should Recent Trials Affect CRT Practice?
Sana M Al-Khatib, MD, MHS and John Ryan, MD
In recent weeks the cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) field has been absorbing the publication of the BLOCK HF trial in the New England Journal of Medicine and the publication of the NARROW-CRT trial in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. These trials raised the possibility that CRT may improve clinical status in some patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy […]
May 10th, 2013
Blogging at HRS 2013: Great Takeaways on Day 2
Luis Garcia, MD
HRS yields useful insights, both personal and professional.
May 10th, 2013
Encouraging 4-Year Results for Boston Scientific’s Watchman Device in AF Patients
Larry Husten, PHD
Encouraging long-term results from the PROTECT AF trial comparing the Watchman left atrial appendage closure device to warfarin in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients were presented yesterday at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting in Denver. Previously the main results of the trial, published in the Lancet, demonstrated that the Watchman was noninferior to warfarin, but the total number of […]
May 10th, 2013
Blogging from HRS 2013: Excitement at the Convention Center and Outside
Sandeep K Goyal, MD
An emotion-raising debate, a late-breaker session, and technological innovations focus this fellow, despite Denver’s many attractions.
May 9th, 2013
Bruise Control: Continued Warfarin Beats Heparin Bridging During Device Implantation
Larry Husten, PHD
Many patients receiving an ICD or a pacemaker are already receiving oral anticoagulants. Current guidelines recommend replacement of the oral anticoagulant with the temporary use of heparin as a bridging strategy. Now a new study, BRUISE CONTROL (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial), offers convincing evidence that this strategy is not […]
May 9th, 2013
Another Disappointing Study for Fish Oil Supplements
Larry Husten, PHD
Another large study has failed to find any benefits for fish oil supplements. The Italian Risk and Prevention Study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, enrolled 12,513 people who had not had a myocardial infarction but had evidence of atherosclerosis or had multiple cardiovascular risk factors. The patients were randomized to either a fish oil supplement […]
May 9th, 2013
Blogging from HRS 2013: VT/VF Summit, and Bill Clinton Too!
Luis Garcia, MD
A fellow experiences one exceptional presentation after another at the first day of HRS 2013.