Arrhythmia/EP
RECORD AF: Better success with rhythm control, but no difference in outcomes
Nov 16, 2009 17:00 EST
New registry data presented this week showed that cardiologists are more likely to select rhythm control over rate control for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, and this strategy is more likely to lead to successful treatment of AF than the rate-control-based approach. Both strategies are equivalent in terms of their effect on clinical outcomes.

Orlando, FL - New registry data presented this week at the American Heart Association 2009 Scientific Sessions showed that cardiologists are more likely to select rhythm control over rate control for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, and this strategy is more likely to lead to the successful treatment of AF than the rate-control-based approach.

Speaking during the late-breaking clinical-science session, lead investigator Dr John Camm (St. George's Hospital, London, UK) noted, however, that the two strategies did not differ with regard to their effect on hard clinical outcomes at one year, although more patients in the rate-control arm progressed to permanent atrial-fibrillation status.Read full article »

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Arrhythmia/EP
Evaluation and Treatment of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Oct 21, 2009 11:32 EDT
Dr. Anne Curtis offers 2 cases of high-risk patients who present with shortness of breath. How are these patients diagnosed and treated?
Arrhythmia/EP
Treating Atrial Fibrillation: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Oct 16, 2009 09:05 EDT
Rate control, rhythm control, new drugs and devices for anticoagulation -- the armamentarium of treatment options is expanding rapidly. Drs. Yancy, Cannon, and Boehmer discuss the latest treatment modalities for patients with AF.
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Arrhythmia/EP
Expanding Role of HF-Device Therapy?
Sep 28, 2009 14:20 EDT
The results of MADIT-CRT suggest patients with early stage (NYHA class I/II) symptomatic heart failure (HF) indicated for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) may benefit from the addition of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). How likely are these results to increase device implant rates? Take our poll and see how your colleagues responded.
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heartbriefs
Sen Grassley questions top medical schools about ghostwriting
Nov 20, 2009 13:15 EST
As part of his mission to see more financial transparency in medicine, Sen Grassley has asked eight top US medical schools about their policies on ghostwriting.
Acute Coronary Syndromes
Oral anticoagulants REDEEMed? Daily dabigatran "safe" with dual antiplatelets after MI
Nov 19, 2009 11:00 EST
A dose-finding study saw what were characterized as low bleeding rates associated with triple-drug antithrombotic therapy that included the oral anticoagulant dabigatran in patients with a recent ACS event and other cardiovascular risk factors.
News
EFFECT: Public reporting of hospital performance improves quality of care?
Nov 19, 2009 10:00 EST
Publicly released report cards based on hospital performance did not result in a measurably greater systemwide improvement in two composite AMI or CHF process-of-care indicators in a Canadian study. But they did appear to stimulate some important changes in delivery of care that could have led to some better outcomes.
Medscape Medical News
RE-LY: Post hoc analysis confirms benefit of dabigatran relative to warfarin at all INR levels
Nov 17, 2009 16:30 EST
A new analysis confirms that regardless of INR control achieved across participating centers, dabigatran remained noninferior at the lower dose and superior at the higher dose to warfarin for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism.
Heart failure
HEAAL: High-dose trumps low-dose ARB for heart failure in the ACE-inhibitor intolerant
1 COMMENT - Nov 17, 2009 08:15 EST
UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // The randomized trial, which compared losartan dosages of 150 mg/day and 50 mg/day, "makes a strong case for the value of incremental inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system," its authors say.
Medscape Medical News
Medical device correction issued for Cardiac Science AEDs
Nov 16, 2009 13:00 EST
AEDs manufactured by Cardiac Science are undergoing a nationwide voluntary medical device correction because of the potential failure of these devices to deliver therapy during use.
Arrhythmia/EP
REPLACE registry finds 15.3% six-month complication rate with pacer and ICD lead replacements
Nov 16, 2009 09:30 EST
The REPLACE registry finds "sobering" comprehensive risk rates with pacemaker and ICD upgrades.
Medscape Medical News
PRINCE: Prehospital intranasal cooling after cardiac arrest feasible, may improve survival
Nov 16, 2009 08:45 EST
A device that allows therapeutic hypothermia to begin in the field has been shown to be safe and its use feasible in treating out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Acute Coronary Syndromes
Good news continues for ticagrelor in PLATO STEMI subanalysis
1 COMMENT - Nov 15, 2009 19:30 EST
Ticagrelor, an investigational antiplatelet agent, may become a new standard of care for the management of patients with STEMI heading for primary PCI, said the lead investigator of the STEMI subset of the PLATO trial. Reporting the new findings here today, he said they were consistent with the overall PLATO results.
Arrhythmia/EP
PACE: BiV pacing protects against RV pacing's adverse ventricular effects in randomized trial
Nov 15, 2009 16:30 EST
In patients with conventional indications for pacing and normal systolic function, preservation of synchrony with biventricular pacing prevented the adverse remodeling effects of right-ventricular-only pacing. But some question the trial's methods.
Arrhythmia/EP
Natural ventricular rate a powerful risk predictor in ICD trial
2 COMMENTS - Nov 12, 2009 17:15 EST
It's routinely assessed but underappreciated as a risk marker: the natural, unpaced heart rate of patients with implanted defibrillators was a strong, independent predictor of poor clinical outcomes in a retrospective analysis.
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Editorial Programs
The Cardiology Show
The AHA 2009 Roundup: ARBITER 6-HALTS, PLATO, the two CHAMPIONs, and CASCADE
1 COMMENT - Nov 18, 2009 16:30 EST
Join Drs Valentin Fuster, Roger Blumenthal, Bob Harrington, Judith Hochman, Sanjay Kaul, Suzanne Oparil, Gregg Stone, Lynne Warner Stevenson, and Bruce Wilkoff as they discuss the results of ARBITER 6-HALTS, the PLATO STEMI subanalysis, the two CHAMPIONs, and CASCADE and tackle the issue of too little, too soon in clinical trials today.
Editorial series
New directions for management of patients with atrial fibrillation
Nov 11, 2009 09:50 EST
New agents and interventions are paving the way for revised modalities in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Join Drs Alpert and Delascio Lopes for a review of the latest findings and options.
Editorial series
Clinical research: Comparing regulatory pathways in US and UK
Oct 30, 2009 12:35 EDT
How do regulatory pathways differ in the US and UK? Drs Harrington, Bhatt, and Cleland share their experiences and offer insight on how to support innovative research.
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