January 14, 2012 Guest post by Dr. John Mandrola Today is the third and final day of the Boston AF symposium. (My editorial comments in italics.) Dr Hugh Calkins started the day by reviewing the major clinical trials of AF ablation. A lot of these I have written about previously. One of the most pivotal …
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January 13, 2012 Guest post by Dr. John Mandrola The late-morning sessions addressed the possible mechanism(s) of AF. Many ask what causes AF. The assumption holds that if we can ablate AF, we must know what causes it. This would not be true. One line of thinking holds that disorganized electrical conduction throughout the atria …
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January 13, 2012 Guest post by Dr. John Mandrola Dr. Frank Marchlinski moderated the first sessions: The global topic involved pulmonary vein reconnections. This is the bane of AF ablation. Our inability to broach the 80% success rates has most to do with the fact that PVs don’t stay isolated. Everyone wants to enhance the …
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January 12, 2012 Guest post by Dr. John Mandrola The second half of the day was fast paced and full of information. Folks, these are rough notes. Hope they help…Again my random thoughts are in italics. Dr Eric Prystowsky led off the afternoon with the best clinical papers of 2011: He is a great speaker …
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January 12, 2012 Guest post by Dr. John Mandrola I’ve never tried this before: giving some brief snips of an AF symposium, on the fly. Maybe doing so will help me remember. My comments are in italics. Little proofreads—consider these quick notes. First talk: Dr Jalife. Molecular mechanisms AF:Think fibrosis, or the infiltration of scar …
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By Christine Welniak Summary: A randomized trial showed that minimally invasive (mini maze) surgical ablation was more effective, but with more complications, than catheter ablation at treating atrial fibrillation patients who had failed a previous catheter ablation or had an enlarged left atrium. Reading time: Approximately 8–10 minutes January 9, 2012 — According to a …
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By Mellanie True Hills Summary: The impact of rate control treatment on quality of life for atrial fibrillation patients is the focus of our January Patient Perspective column in EP Lab Digest. Reading time: 4–6 minutes, which includes the article referenced January 5, 2012 — In our January Patient Perspective column in EP Lab Digest, …
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By Mellanie True Hills Summary: StopAfib.org unveils the Top Ten Atrial Fibrillation Articles of 2011, indicating that patients are focused on afib stroke prevention and atrial fibrillation procedures. Approximate reading time: 2–4 minutes December 29, 2011 — Yesterday, StopAfib.org announced the first of our 2011 Top Ten Lists, the Top Ten Atrial Fibrillation Videos of …
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By Mellanie True Hills Summary: StopAfib.org unveils the Top Ten Atrial Fibrillation Videos of 2011, indicating the priorities of the afib community this year. Approximate reading time: 2 minutes December 28, 2011 — Today, StopAfib.org announces the first of our Top Ten Lists, the Top Ten Atrial Fibrillation Videos of 2011. 2011 Most Viewed Afib …
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By Christine Welniak Summary: An FDA advisory panel concluded that the benefits outweighed the risks when using the Synergy bipolar radiofrequency clamp during open heart surgeries for treating persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. FDA approval was granted December 16, 2012. Reading time: Approximately 4-6 minutes December 16, 2011 — Update: The Food and Drug …
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