It's Thanksgiving week here in the U.S., which is a time to reflect and give thanks. No matter what has happened in our lives, we have much for which to be thankful. I have much for which I am thankful as well, including getting a second chance and a third chance at life. Both caused …
Read More
We recently reported that an ablation catheter clinical trial would potentially usher in FDA approval of the first device for treating atrial fibrillation. That approval was just granted today when the NAVISTAR® THERMOCOOL® Catheter from Biosense Webster (Johnson & Johnson) was approved by the FDA for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Finally, a step in …
Read More
The latest issue of Success magazine talks about Mellanie True Hills, founder of StopAfib.org, and her story of living with atrial fibrillation and having surgery to cure atrial fibrillation as well as launching StopAfib.org to save lives. Read: Success magazine shares the story of StopAfib.org founder Mellanie True Hills and her atrial fibrillation surgery
Read More
A study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that home anticoagulation monitoring of patients on warfarin (Coumadin) was as effective as testing at the hospital clinic. Thus, for those that can't easily get to the hospital clinic, home INR (International Normalized Ratio) monitoring can be an effective and safe alternative. And Medicare now …
Read More
One of the many studies reported on this week at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans was about an ablation catheter clinical trial (from Biosense Webster) that may finally usher in the first FDA approval of a device for treating atrial fibrillation. Read why this could be good news for anyone with …
Read More
UPDATED 11-18-08: This event is being postponed and rescheduled for after the holidays. For those near Chicago, Illinois (Schaumburg, to be exact), we hope that you can join us at an atrial fibrillation patient information seminar on November 22. It is sponsored by the Alexian Brothers Cardiovascular Institute. Read: Free Seminar on Atrial Fibrillation, Schaumburg, …
Read More
A team at the University of Utah School of Medicine is pioneering the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in catheter ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation. The major complication rate using MRI has been 12 times better than the norm. By the end of the year, they expect to perform the first catheter ablation …
Read More
For those in Florida, we hope you can join us at an atrial fibrillation seminar in Orlando on November 15. It is sponsored by The AF Center at The Orlando Cardiovascular Institute. Read: Free Seminar on Atrial Fibrillation, Orlando, FL 11/15/08 And if you're near Chicago, please save the date for a November 22 atrial fibrillation …
Read More
In the past week I've been approached by several folks in their eighties who are interested in catheter ablation or surgery for atrial fibrillation. But eighty is often considered the upper limit for these procedures due to concerns about the health of the patient. Perhaps not any more as a new study out of Canada …
Read More
World Stroke Day is being observed on October 29th and focuses on preventing the silent strokes that occur five times as often as conventional strokes. Read: October 29 is World Stroke Day If you have atrial fibrillation, please re-examine your stroke risk, or arrange to review it with your doctor, as things may have changed. …
Read More