In this video interview, Dr. Hugh Calkins, electrophysiologist at Johns Hopkins, talks about the effort underway to rewrite the HRS/EHRA/ECAS Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter and Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation. The new global guidelines are expected in January of 2012. Watch the video at: Johns Hopkins Electrophysiologist, Dr. Hugh Calkins, On Updating the Atrial [...]
Dr. Matthew Reynolds on Quality of Life From AF Ablation vs. Antiarrhythmic Drugs — Video
In this video, Dr. Matthew Reynolds, of the Harvard Clinical Research Institute, discussed his quality of life findings from use of catheter ablation and antiarrhythmic drugs for treatment of atrial fibrillation. He analyzed quality of life data that was collected as part of the THERMOCOOL catheter trial in which catheter ablation was found to be [...]
Atrial Fibrosis, Not Afib Type, Linked to Atrial Fibrillation Strokes
Researchers at the Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research and Management Center (CARMA) in Utah have been studying the relationship between atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrosis, and catheter ablation outcomes for many years. Now, they’ve applied their knowledge of quantifying atrial fibrosis to stroke risk assessment and found that the amount of atrial fibrosis, not type of afib, is [...]
Dr. Ken Ellenbogen Talks about Fish Oil for Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Prevention Drugs — Video
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 [...]
Surgeon Explains Why Hybrid Ablation “Makes Sense” for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Treatment
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 [...]
Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Ablation Linked to Age, Gender, and Afib Type
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 [...]
2010 Most Popular Atrial Fibrillation News Stories and Videos
StopAfib.org has published the 2010 Most Popular Atrial Fibrillation News Stories and Videos List. Stroke prevention topped the list and included stories about warfarin (Coumadin) and alternatives such as dabigatran (Pradaxa) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto). Other popular topics included the new European atrial fibrillation guidelines, new antiarrhythmic medications, updates on catheter ablation and afib surgery, and [...]
Video of Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Doug Packer Explaining Landmark CABANA Atrial Fibrillation Trial
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 [...]
