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More Reports from the 2021 AF Symposium
Each year you’ll find me at the annual AF Symposium. It’s a unique experience. I attend presentations by the most eminent medical researchers, scientists, cardiologists and cardiac electrophysiologists working in A-Fib today.
I’ve published two more summary reports from the 2021 AF Symposium:
Spotlight Session: Javelin VINE Filter to Prevent Stroke
The idea behind the Javelin Medical VINE filter is to catch and stop clots (emboli) trying to travel up into the brain. This is done by inserting the VINE filter into both carotid arteries.(Of all the 5-minute Spotlight Session talks, this is my personal favorite.)
That’s incredibly good news for many A-Fib patients! It’s simple, ingenious, and very effective. Javelin Medical is an Israeli company located in Yokne’am Illit, Israel. Read more.
Live Case: Vein of Marshall Alcohol Ablation
The AF Symposium audience watched live streaming video from Houston as Dr. Miguel Valderrabano demonstrated an innovative treatment for A-Fib using Alcohol Ablation of the Vein of Marshall.
In difficult A-Fib cases (persistent, long-term persistent), the Vein of Marshall can contain A-Fib signals (potentials, triggers) which are hard to reach and ablate. Adding ablation of the Vein of Marshall using Ethanol has been proven effective.
Using a 3 mm balloon catheter containing ethanol, he distributed ethanol into the Vein of Marshall starting distally (at the far end of the vein). Read more.
To browse through my other reports, go to 2021 AF Symposium Reports. For reports from other years go to Archive of AF Symposiums Summaries by Year
2018 International AF Symposium: My First Report
Held Jan. 11-13, 2018 in Orlando, FL, the annual International AF Symposium is an intensive and highly focused three-day scientific forum which brings together the world’s leading medical scientists, researchers, cardiologists and electrophysiologists to share the most recent advances in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
The 45 distinguished faculty were leaders in the Atrial Fibrillation field from around the world (the U.S., England, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Russia, Taiwan, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and two members of the U.S. FDA [Food and Drug Administration].
I made it to every presentation despite being sick with some kind of a virus I caught on the plane to Orlando. I was running on fumes.
Hot Topics
KISS OF DEATH FOR FIRM?
In a late-breaking presentation, the interim results of REAFFIRM trial were presented by Dr. John Hummel from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The success rate for PVI plus FIRM was not significantly different (78%) for patients receiving only a standard PVI (70%).
Barring further research, this may mean the end of the FIRM system as an effective player in A-Fib ablation. See my upcoming report for more.
FOCUS ON LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE
Like last year, there was great interest in and examination of the importance of the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA). Four of the six live case presentations dealt with the LAA. Ten of the more than 62 presentations focused on the LAA.
…To continue reading… Go to My Overview of the 2018 International AF Symposium->
Dr. Ruskin
“Steve Ryan’s summaries of the A-Fib Symposium are terrific. Steve has the ability to synthesize and communicate accurately in clear and simple terms the essence of complex subjects. This is an exceptional skill and a great service to patients with atrial fibrillation.” — Dr. Jeremy Ruskin of Mass. General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
