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 …
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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 …
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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, …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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. …
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Recently there have been a number of new beta blocker and heart rate studies, some of which are contradictory. The findings from some of these recent studies may apply to those with atrial fibrillation: Heart rates over 70 beats per minute predict heart attack risk Slowing the heart rate doesn't protect those with hypertension—or does …
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USA Weekend HealthSmart edition features a story about Mellanie True Hills, founder of StopAfib.org, in which she talks about living with atrial fibrillation and communicating electronically with her surgeon before and after her mini-maze surgery. Read: USA Weekend Talks About Atrial Fibrillation and Mini-Maze Surgery... What are your thoughts on the role that electronic communications should play in your communications …
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A study in the October 15 issue of JAMA indicates that reducing how often a patient receives amiodarone for atrial fibrillation does not decrease side effects, but does increase atrial fibrillation recurrence and the risk of death and hospitalizations. Read: Continuous use of amiodarone for atrial fibrillation better than episodic use
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