New research from Denmark shows that CHADS2 underestimates stroke risk. In the study, atrial fibrillation patients who were at intermediate risk with the CHADS2 scoring system had more than twice the stroke rate of those defined by the enhanced CHA2DS2-VASc tool as being at intermediate risk. While CHADS2 deemed 32.3% of patients to have intermediate …
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In this video, Dr. Kenneth Ellenbogen talks about important information presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010. First he talked about the ROCKET AF clinical trial of rivaroxaban, a new drug that is an alternative to warfarin (Coumadin), as well as another alternative, the recently-approved dabigatran. He provided scenarios as to how these drugs …
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Hybrid ablation is an emerging treatment for patients with persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. It is a dual approach, in which an electrophysiologist ablates from inside the heart and the cardiac surgeon ablates on the outside the heart. Dr. James Edgerton, a cardiac surgeon at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano in Texas, who spoke …
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Up to 30% of patients could have very late recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation, according to research highlighted at the recent Boston AF Symposium. Very late recurrence, which is when atrial fibrillation resumes more than one year after ablation, may be the result of age, gender, type of afib, and existence of other …
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At the recent Boston AF Symposium, investigators of the STOP AF clinical trial, which investigated the effectiveness and safety of Medtronic’s Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter system, showed that electrophysiologists who are more experienced with the device had better success rates and no major complications compared to those who had performed just one or two …
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In this video, Dr. Douglas L. Packer of the Mayo Clinic provides details about the landmark CABANA Trial comparing Catheter Ablation to Antiarrhythmic Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation. Dr. Packer is the Lead Investigator for the CABANA Trial. Watch the video, and learn more, at: Dr. Douglas L. Packer on the CABANA Trial comparing Catheter Ablation to …
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New medical guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) incorporating the latest afib research put Europe ahead of the U.S. when it comes to standardized treatment of atrial fibrillation. Stroke prevention and symptom relief are at the heart of the new ESC guidelines, which also make it clear that the risk of stroke for …
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A new mini maze procedure developed by Dr. John Sirak at Ohio State University is a promising new treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation as it closely replicates the "gold standard" Cox Maze III lesion set in the heart's left atrium. This “five box” thoracoscopic maze procedure may be better able to treat persistent AF specifically …
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A new study exploring ethnic differences in stroke risk for people with atrial fibrillation (AF) showed that Mexican American stroke survivors with afib were more than twice as likely to have another stroke as comparable non-Hispanic white stroke survivors with afib. Researchers were surprised by the study’s finding that severity of recurrent stroke is also …
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In this video interview, Emelia Benjamin, MD, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University and senior investigator for the Framingham Heart Study, discusses atrial fibrillation risk factors and afib prevention, including the role of family history. She talks about the Framingham Risk Prediction Tool for Atrial Fibrillation and discusses well-known risks, such as advancing …
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