The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of   The Lead   features host Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS, in conversation with Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Prashanthan Sanders, MBBS, PhD, FHRS, about the journal article,   Atrial Mechanical Contraction Predicts Cerebrovascular Risk in Patients With Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy and Sinus Rhythm . Together, they discuss the study findings and explore the...

In this episode of   The Lead , host Robert Schaller, DO, FHRS, is joined by Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Maulin Shah, MD, to discuss the journal article,   Device-Related Complications in Transvenous Versus Subcutaneous Defibrillator Therapy During Long-Term Follow-Up: The PRAETORIAN-XL Trial . Together, they review the study's long-term follow-up findings and explore device-related complications...

In this episode of   The Lead , host Sandeep A. Saha, MD, MS, FHRS, is joined by Suraj Kapa, MD, FHRS, and Albert Joseph Rogers, BSE, MBA, MD, FHRS, to discuss the journal article,   Predicting Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients With Sarcoidosis Using a Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Model . Together, they review the study's approach to using a multimodal artificial intelligence model to predict...

In this episode of   The Lead , host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, is joined by John M. Mandrola, MD, and Nassir F. Marrouche, MD, FHRS, to discuss the journal article,   The Association Between Atrial Fibrillation Burden and Quality of Life: A Substudy of the SHAM-PVI Trial . Together, they explore the relationship between atrial fibrillation burden and quality of life, reviewing findings from this...

In this episode of   The Lead , host Christopher C. Cheung, MD, MPH, FHRS, is joined by Edward P. Gerstenfeld, MD, MS, FHRS, and Paul C. Zei, MD, PhD, FHRS, to discuss the journal article,   A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Global Study Comparing Pulsed Field Ablation versus Anti-Arrhythmic Drug Therapy as a First Line Treatment for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (AVANT GUARD) . Together, they...

In this episode of   The Lead , host Sandeep A. Saha, MD, MS, FHRS, is joined by Babak Nazer, MD, and Rajesh Kabra, MD, FHRS, to discuss the journal article,   Safety and Effectiveness of a Dual-Energy Focal Ablation Catheter to Treat Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: 6-Month Results of the FlexPulse IDE Study . Together, they review the study's six-month findings and explore the safety and effectiv...

In this episode of  The Lead , host Melissa Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, FHRS is joined by Jenelle Dziano, PhD candidate, Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Adrian D. Elliott, PhD for a discussion of the recent journal article,  Exercise Capacity and Quality-of-Life Improvements after Catheter Ablation in Patients with Clinically Asymptomatic Persistent Atrial Fibrillation . Together, they explore the st...

This New England Journal of Medicine study from the CHAMPION-AF trial compared left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) using the WATCHMAN FLX device with non–vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in 3,000 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation eligible for anticoagulation therapy. The trial found that LAAC was noninferior to NOACs for preventing stroke, cardiovascular death, and systemic embol...

This late-breaking sub-analysis from the CHAMPION-AF trial evaluated outcomes of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with the WATCHMAN FLX device versus oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation who had previously undergone catheter ablation. Investigators found that LAAC provided similar protection against stroke, cardiovascular death, and systemic embolism compared with non-vita...

This discussion reviews the late-breaking HRS 2026 study  Total Fatal Adverse Events Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Reported in an FDA Mandatory Reporting System: A Matter of Concern? The TiFFANY Study , which examined fatal adverse event reports associated with atrial fibrillation ablation using data from the FDA MAUDE database. Faculty discuss the incidence and mechanisms of rare but ser...

Welcome to the latest episode of late-breaker coverage from Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago, with host Deep Chandh Raja, MBBS, MD, PhD, FHRS and his guests Paul Chun Yih Lim, MBBS, FHRS and Abhishek Deshmukh, MD. This discussion reviews the late-breaking HRS 2026 trial  Safety and Performance of a Novel ICD Lead for Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing: Results from the ASCEND CSP Trial Arrhythmia , which...

Join Digital Education Committee member Jason T. Jacobson, MD, FHRS, and his guests John L. Sapp, Jr., MD, FHRS and Kyoko Soejima, MD for this conversation at Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago. This discussion reviews the late-breaking clinical trial  Ventricular Intramyocardial Navigation and Tachycardia Ablation Guided by Electrograms (VINTAGE): First-in-Human Experience with a Novel Therapy for Refr...

Welcome to the third in this week's series of Lead episodes covering late breaking clinical trials from Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago. Join host Michael Lloyd, MD, FHRS, and his guests Christopher Kowalewski, MD and Karin Benali, MD, PhD for this discussion. This first-in-human, prospective study presented at Heart Rhythm 2026 evaluated noninvasive proton beam cardiac radioablation for patients wit...

Welcome to the second episode this week in our triple header of late breaking clinical trials coverage from Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago. Host Christopher C Cheung, MD, MPH, FHRS is joined by Mihail G. Chelu, MD, PhD, FHRS and Derek Chew, MD, MS, FHRS for a conversation in Chicago. The LEAP2 trial, a first-in-human chronic feasibility study presented at Heart Rhythm 2026, evaluated a novel leadles...

Welcome to the first episode in this week's triple-header of late-breaking clinical trial coverage from Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago. In this episode Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD from the Digital Education Committee sits down with David H. Birnie, MD and T. Jared Bunch, MD, FHRS to talk through this exciting late breaker. This late-breaking substudy of the ALONE-AF trial presented at Heart Rhyt...

Join host Melissa Middeldorp and her guests Marco Perez and Kristie Coleman for this installment of The Lead! This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluated whether smartwatch-based rhythm monitoring improves detection of previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) in cardiology outpatients aged ≥65 years with elevated stroke risk. A total of 437 participants were randomized to either...

In this discussion, Dr. Deep Chandh Raja, MBBS, MD, PhD, is joined by Dr. Chi Keong Ching, MBBS, FHRS, and Dr. Haris M. Haqqani, MD, PhD, FHRS, to review the growing empirical evidence supporting anatomically guided ablation strategies for idiopathic left ventricular (LV) summit ventricular arrhythmias. The panel highlights how integrating multimodality mapping with a nuanced understanding of the...

Join an expert-led discussion exploring the safety and clinical outcomes of Class 1c antiarrhythmic therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation, based on insights from a nationwide cohort study. Deep Chandh Raja, MBBS, MD, PhD (Australian National University and Kauvery Hospital) hosts a dynamic conversation with Sandeep Gautam, MD, MPH...

Join Digital Education Committee member and podcast host Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, along with this week's guest contributors,Sheldon Litwin, MD from the Medical University of South Carolina and Abhishek Deshmuckh, MBBS from the Mayo Clinic for this week's episode. This real-world retrospective cohort study evaluated whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapy is assoc...

Join Digital Education Committee member and podcast host Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, along with this week's guest contributors, Joshua Silverstein MD, FHRS from Allegheny Health Network and Jonathan Ariyaratnam, BChir, MA, MB, CCDS, CEPS-A from the University of Adelaidefor this week's episode. This study by Vad and colleagues examined markers of atrial cardiomyopathy (AtCM) in 26,467 UK Biob...

Join Digital Education Committee member and podcast host Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, along with this week's guest contributors, Nino Isakadze, MD, MHS, and Geraldine A. Lee, PhD, FESC for this week's episode. The POP-AF trial was a prospective, randomized controlled study evaluating whether a nurse-led, integrated lifestyle intervention before AF ablation improves outcomes. A total of 145 pat...

Join Digital Education Committee member and podcast host Deep Chandh Raja, MBBS, MD, PhD, along with this week's guest contributors, Senthil Thambidorai, MD, FHRS  and Lee Karl Thien, MD, CCDS for this week's episode. This real-world registry study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and mid-term outcomes of pulsed field ablation (PFA) for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)–dependent atrial flutter. Acute...

Join Digital Education Committee Vice-Chair and podcast host Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, along with this week's guest contributors, Jackson J. Liang, DO and Edward P. Gerstenfeld, MD, MS, FHRS for this week's episode. This study evaluates the relationship between hospital ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation volume and post-procedural complications , examining whether institutional procedural experie...

Join Digital Education Committee Member and podcast host Jason T. Jacobson, MD, FHRS, along with this week's guest contributors, Gaurav A. Upadhyay, MD, FHRS and Pugazhendhi Vijayaraman, MD, FHRS for this exciting conversation! This Heart Rhythm Journal article explores the electrophysiologic signatures that occur during left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) as lead position changes, with a focus on id...

Welcome to this week's episode of  The Lead . Join HRS Digital Education Committee member and podcast host Danesh Kella, MBBS, FHRS as he welcomes his guests Rahul N Doshi, MD, FHRS and Robert D Schaller, DO, FHRS. They are discussing Mechanical Vacuum Aspiration and Debulking of Large Vegetations During Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Extractions, which was published in the Journal of the A...