Some fascinating new research just reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has shown that atrial fibrillation treatment success more than doubles when patients with medication-resistant high blood pressure [hypertension] and atrial fibrillation have a pulmonary vein isolation catheter ablation augmented by a kidney-related procedure called “renal artery denervation.” To learn more …
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At Heart Rhythm 2012, Dr. Albert Waldo shared with StopAfib.org’s Mellanie True Hills about why aspirin should no longer be used for the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation. Dr. Waldo noted that many global afib guidelines have been revised, or soon will be, to remove aspirin as a recommended atrial fibrillation stroke prevention treatment. …
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At Heart Rhythm 2012, Dr. Sanjiv Narayan gave us an update on his FIRM (focal impulse and rotor modulation) ablation research, including that other centers have been duplicating his work in ablating rotors and focal beats. Amazingly, some patients have had their atrial fibrillation wiped out in a matter of minutes. Watch the video or …
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Although the total number of stroke deaths declined by more than 50 percent between 1978 and 2006, racial disparities in stroke deaths have remained and efforts to eliminate health disparities have been unsuccessful. Between ages 45 and 65, blacks are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from stroke than whites, but we haven’t …
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Updated 2-17-12: Thank you for coming to this link from a myriad of places (many of which we cannot delete our postings from). The survey is now complete and the link has been turned off. But since you have an interest in atrial fibrillation, we hope that you'll stick around and spend some time checking …
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In this interview, Dr. Daniel Singer updates us on the new anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation stroke prevention that he presented about at Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium. He provided an update on rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), and edoxaban, and mentioned that all were better than warfarin (Coumadin) in preventing intracranial bleeding (bleeding in the …
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Dr. John Mandrola, a cardiac electrophysiologist in Louisville, Kentucky, who blogs at Dr. John M, live-blogged the 2012 Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium. He has given us permission to reprint his blog posts for the afib community. You will find them here: Recap of Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium 2012 – Guest Posts by Dr. John Mandrola …
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Results from FAST, the first-ever randomized trial to compare the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgical ablation (also called the mini maze procedure) for atrial fibrillation and catheter ablation for afib, were presented at the recent American Heart Association meeting. The FAST study enrolled patients who had failed a previous catheter ablation procedure. The minimally invasive …
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the AtriCure Synergy Ablation System for the treatment of persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing another heart surgery. The Synergy bipolar radiofrequency clamp is the only surgical ablation device with FDA approval for afib treatment. Learn more: FDA Advisory Panel Recommends, and FDA Approves, Bipolar …
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At the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2011, Dr. Sanjiv Narayan presented the high success rate of the FIRM trial of focal and rotor catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Watch the video at: Atrial Fibrillation Focal and Rotor Catheter Ablations Show High Success Rates — Video Interview with Dr. Sanjiv Narayan About the FIRM Trial
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