http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A device commonly used to treat dangerous heart rhythms may cause more issues for patients than a simpler version of the same device. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) prevents sudden cardiac death by detecting irregularities and delivering an electrical jolt to restart the heart. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-dual-chamber-defibrillators-pose-higher.html Cardiology Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:01 EST news287758557 Programming an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) with a long-detection interval compared with a standard-detection interval resulted in a reduction in anti-tachycardia pacing episodes, ICD shocks delivered, and inappropriate shocks, according to a study in the May 8 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-effect-intervals-implantable-cardioverter-defibrillators.html Cardiology Tue, 07 May 2013 16:00:02 EST news287159969 Every year an estimated 1.5 million magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are performed in Canada and the number is growing at a rate of about 10 per cent per year. At the same time, a soaring number of Canadians who rely on implanted defibrillators to keep their hearts beating are denied this valuable, life-saving diagnostic test despite a 50 to 75 per cent probability that they will require one over the lifetime of their defibrillator. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-mri-friendly-defibrillator-implant-doors-thousands.html Cardiology Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:02:34 EST news278672533 Patients who received an implantable heart defibrillator in everyday practice had survival benefits on par with those who received the same devices in carefully controlled clinical trials, according to a new study that highlights the value of defibrillators in typical medical settings. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-real-world-patient-survival-defibrillators-trial.html Cardiology Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:08:57 EST news276278921 (HealthDay)—Women are more likely than men to experience complications and to die within six months of getting an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, according to new research that looked at nearly 39,000 patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-women-dont-fare-men-implanted.html Cardiology Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:30:01 EST news271523256 Improved patient education and ongoing psychological support will help people cope with the psychological distress of having an implanted defibrillator, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-psychological-key-defibrillator-patients.html Cardiology Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:00:10 EST news267704706 Electrical storm (ES) is a potent risk factor for mortality and morbidity, according to research presented today, August 26, at the ESC Congress 2012 by Dr Federico Guerra from Italy. Data was also presented on which patients are prone to developing ES and how effective current treatments are. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-electrical-storm-potent-factor-mortality.html Cardiology Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:30:01 EST news265284833 People with a distressed (Type D) personality reported worse health than other patients after having devices implanted to ensure proper heart rhythm, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-heart-patients-distressed-personality-worse.html Cardiology Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:11 EST news255696433 Patients who are underweight or small in stature are twice as likely to experience complications or die during insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) compared to obese and normal-weight patients, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 61st Annual Scientific Session. The Scientific Session, the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, brings cardiovascular professionals together to further advances in the field. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-underweight-patients-defibrillator-implantation.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:50:02 EST news251975669 The cost to place an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) increased by $844 per case after a new requirement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) went into effect in February 2010, according to research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 61st Annual Scientific Session. The Scientific Session, the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, brings cardiovascular professionals together to further advances in the field. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-medicaremedicaid-patient-outcomes-defibrillator-implants.html Cardiology Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:14:13 EST news251975647 A software monitoring program that tracks implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) function could detect problems with the devices earlier than current monitoring processes, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-software-implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator-malfunctions-sooner.html Cardiology Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:00:06 EST news250263668 Based on a review of the latest evidence, the Guidelines Committee of the Heart Failure Society of America now recommends that the use of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) be expanded to a larger group of patients with mild heart failure symptoms. Recommendations for integrating new evidence into clinical practice appear in the February issue of the Journal of Cardiac Failure. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-hfsa-cardiac-resynchronization-therapy.html Cardiology Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:08:54 EST news249588527 More than 100,000 implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are implanted in the United States annually, fully a quarter of those are generator replacements simply because the battery is depleted. But are all those replacements necessary and should they actually be performed? http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-cardiologists-patient-centered-approach-implantable-cardioverter-defibrillators.html Cardiology Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:01 EST news246710408 What do sweaty palms and abnormal heart rhythms have in common? Both can be initiated by the nervous system during adrenaline-driven "flight or fight" stress reaction when the body senses danger. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-snipping-key-nerves-life-threatening.html Cardiology Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:03 EST news243516813 Device management using a home monitoring system with daily telemetry in patients with ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrilators) is a safe alternative to conventional monitoring and could decrease the number of inappropriate shocks, according to results of the ECOST study, a multicentre randomised trial performed in France. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-remote-icd-safe-alternative-conventional.html Cardiology Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:45:57 EST news233837101 A study by a global consortium of physician-scientists has identified a genetic variation that may predispose people to double the risk of having a sudden cardiac arrest, a disorder that gives little warning and is fatal in about 95 percent of cases. Although previous, smaller studies have identified some genes with a potential association with sudden cardiac arrest, this is the first study large enough to enable scientists to apply results to the general population. Findings are published today by the Public Library of Science (PloS Genetics). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-uncovers-genetic-variation-linked-sudden.html Genetics Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:39:21 EST news228674348