cardiac electrophysiologist, cyclist, learner
Many readers have contacted me to ask whether my negative viewson left atrial appendage occlusion with Watchman have changed since 2017. The short answer is no. My views are even more negative today. In 2016, I published … [Continue reading]
Joan has left an excellent comment on my recent 2019 AF ablation update. She brings up many important issues. Let’s dissect it. Q: Joan asks if it is common to see patients who think they are cured after AF ablation but are still in … [Continue reading]
Most years I write an update on any big developments in AF ablation. This year's version will be a short one. I have little new to report. But it's worth reviewing some basic issues. We still do not know the cause of atrial fibrillation (AF). That … [Continue reading]
This post introduces my latest column over at Medscape. I hope you go read the full piece. Medical overuse bothers me. Consuming medical care that does not improve outcomes makes you poorer, and puts you at risk for being harmed. I … [Continue reading]
I recently finished an academic review paper on the role of social media in medicine and cardiology. My co-author and friend Piotr Futyma (Rzeszów Poland) and I focused mostly on the upsides of digital media. It’s not yet published but it is … [Continue reading]
I received a good question(s) from a reader: In your "Changing the culture" posting there is the comment: "Patients seeking medical treatment should not assume a prescribed therapy is beneficial just because a doctor says it is."... How then does a … [Continue reading]
This week on my podcast, I deviated briefly from cardiology to discuss a shocking and sad study highlighting the vital nature of doing randomized controlled trials in the practice of medicine. The reason I mentioned a trial comparing 2 types of … [Continue reading]
Apple products are cool. I love them. But (even) Apple will struggle delivering health. Making healthy people healthier is fraught with problems. At the core of this issue are the many snags of screening people for disease. Here are 600 … [Continue reading]
During a recent office visit an older women recited to me what I had said to her over a decade ago on the day she came to the hospital. The detail of her memory gave me pause. I could not remember the scenario but she said that my words had become … [Continue reading]
One of the most commonly asked questions in the office is the treatment of arthritis pain. This comes up because of the concern over taking NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in patients who are on anticoagulants (such as warfarin, or … [Continue reading]
My editors at Medscape warned me years ago that many people, especially younger ones, read a lot less. This saddened me because I've spent a great deal of time learning to write. One of America's most accomplished writers, Malcolm Gladwell, began … [Continue reading]
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