The Lead Podcast - Episode 98: A Discussion of Effect of targeted education of patients with atrial fibrillation...
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Release Date: 04/02/2025
The Lead Episode 118: A Discussion of Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation.....
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, University of Adelaide is joined by Jenelle Dziano, Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide and Jared Bunch, MD, FHRS, University of Utah School of Medicine, to discuss a study that investigated the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF), brain glymphatic function, and cognitive performance. Using MRI-derived diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS), the authors found that patients with AF especially those with no paroxysmal AF exhibited impaired glymphatic activity compared to healthy controls. This reduced...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 117: A Discussion of Can ICD Electrograms Help Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation?
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
William H. Sauer, MD, FHRS, Brigham and Women's Hospital is joined by Wendy S. Tzou, MD, FHRS, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Kishan Padalia, MD, University of Colorado, to discuss the results of ablation of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) are suboptimal. For many patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), ICD electrograms (ICD-EGs) provide the only available information on SMVT. ICD-EGs have the ability to distinguish morphologically distinct SMVT and can be used for pace mapping. https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 116: A Discussion of Multicenter Results of a Novel Pediatric Pacemaker...LIVE from HRS 2025 in San Diego
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Deep Chandh Raja, MBBS, MD, PhD, Australian National University, Kauvery Hospital is joined by Andreas Pflaumer, MD, FHRS, CEPS-P, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne and Maully J. Shah, MBBS, FHRS, CCDS, CEPS-P Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, to discuss the unmet clinical need for a smaller pacemaker suitable for neonates and infants, researchers developed a specially modified implantable pulse generator incorporating a Medtronic Micra subassembly within a polymer header, connected to a bipolar epicardial lead. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and midterm outcomes of...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 115: A Discussion of Socio-economic Position and Sudden Cardiac Death...
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD is joined by Martin K. Stiles, MBChB, PhD, FHRS, University of Auckland and Waikato Hospital and Eloi Marijon, MD, PhD, Paris University & European Georges Pompidou Hospital, to discuss this Danish nationwide study examines the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) as well as all-cause mortality (ACM). Analyzing all deaths in Denmark from 2010, researchers found a strong inverse association between both income and education level and the risk of SCD and ACM. Individuals in the lowest income and education groups had...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 114: A Discussion of Lifestyle and risk factor modification in atrial fibrillation...
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD is joined by Thomas F. Deering, BS, MBA, MD, FHRS, CCDS, and T. Jared Bunch, MD, FHRS to discuss a 31-item questionnaire was developed and distributed among healthcare professionals via the EHRA network and social media between 23 September and 21 October 2024. https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead https://academic.oup.com/europace/article/27/4/euaf075/8099191?login=false Host Disclosure(s): M. Middeldorp: Nothing to disclose. Contributor Disclosure(s): T. Deering: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Sanofi, Pacemate, Pfizer, Inc., Omny Health,...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 113: A Discussion on the Effect of Pulsed Field Ablation on Human Coronary Arteries...
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Please join host Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS at HRS 2025 in San Diego as he discusses this article with Stephanie Wang, MD and Emily Zeitler, MD. The study investigated whether PFA-induced coronary spasms during ablation could cause lasting changes—such as mild lumen narrowing—at the ablation site over a three-month period. https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacep.2025.03.014 Host Disclosure(s): M. Lloyd: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Medtronic, Arga Medtech, Circa Scientific Membership on Advisory Committees: Boston Scientific Contributor...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 112: A Discussion of Brugada Syndrome Ablation...
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Please join host Jason T. Jacobson, MD, FHRS at HRS 2025 in San Diego as he discusses this article with Marmar Vaseghi, MD, MS, PhD, FHRS and Mayank Sardana, MBBS, MS. The prospective, multicenter, randomized BRAVE trial evaluated epicardial catheter ablation targeting the arrhythmogenic substrate in Brugada syndrome patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to prevent ventricular fibrillation (VF). After a planned interim analysis of 52 patients, ablation significantly reduced VF episodes compared with controls (hazard ratio 0.29; P = .018), prompting early trial...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 111: A Discussion of Computed Tomography-Guided Catheter Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia LIVE at HRS 2025 in San Diego
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
This late-breaking randomized trial, published online on April 26, 2025 in Heart Rhythm, demonstrated that using CT scan guidance for ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation significantly shortens procedure time while maintaining a safety profile comparable to conventional methods. In essence, CT-guided ablation offers a faster, equally safe alternative for VT treatment. A discussion of the late breakers was recorded live in San Diego at Heart Rhythm 2025. https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(25)02182-4/fulltext Host Disclosure(s): ...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 110: A Discussion of Left bundle area pacing in hypertrophied hearts...LIVE from HRS 2025 in San Diego
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Left Bundle Area Pacing in Hypertrophied Hearts: An Ex Vivo Ovine Model to Study Deployment of Pacing Leads in Thick Septum describes the development of a novel ex vivo sheep heart model with induced septal hypertrophy to simulate challenging left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) scenarios. The study evaluates the deployment characteristics and fixation behavior of pacing leads in thickened septal tissue, aiming to improve procedural safety and lead placement strategies in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. This model offers a valuable tool for preclinical testing and refinement of...
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The Lead Podcast - Episode 109: A Discussion of Survival Outcomes after SCA in Young, Competitive Athletes in the US
The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society
Join us at Heart Rhythm 2025 for the discussion of this study. Between July 2014 and June 2023, researchers tracked 641 sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) incidents in U.S. athletes aged 11–29. Overall survival was 49%, rising to 57% during exercise, and reaching 70% in game/competition settings compared to 53% during practice. Survival rates improved significantly over the nine years, yet notable racial disparities persisted: Black athletes were 37% less likely, and athletes of other non-White races 31% less likely, to survive exertional SCAs than White athletes. The authors emphasize that while...
info_outlineHost Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, of the University Medical Centre Groningen & University of Adelaide, is joined by Andrea Robinson, MSN, ACNP, from Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth, and Jeroen ML Hendriks, PhD, RN, of Maastricht University Medical Centre, in this episode.
The AF-EduCare trial investigated whether targeted patient education (delivered in-person or online) could reduce unplanned cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The study found that while education improved patient knowledge, medication adherence, and risk factor awareness, it did not significantly reduce cardiovascular hospitalizations, emergency visits, or mortality compared to standard care. However, subgroup analyses suggested that younger patients, those without heart failure, and asymptomatic AF patients might benefit more from in-person education. The findings highlight that while education enhances patient engagement, comprehensive medical management and timely clinical interventions remain the key drivers of improved cardiovascular outcomes in AF care.
Join us for this in-depth conversation about the trial.
https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead
https://academic.oup.com/europace/article/27/1/euae211/7964628
Host Disclosure(s):
M. Middeldorp: Nothing to disclose.
Contributor Disclosure(s):
A. Robinson: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Medtronic, Inc., AtriCure, Inc., Biosense Webster, Inc.
J. Kendriks: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Biotronik
This episode has .25 ACE credits associated with it. If you want credit for listening to this episode, please visit the episode page on HRS365: https://www.heartrhythm365.org/URL/TheLeadEpisode98