174 episodes
The Lead Episode 170: A Discussion of Pulsed Field Ablation Versus Sham to Treat Atrial Fibrillation: The PFA-SHAM Randomized Clinical Trial
24/09/2026 | 20 mins.In this episode of The Lead, host Cinzia Monaco, MD, PhD, is joined by Kinan Kneizeh, MD, and Konstantinos Vlachos, MD, PhD, to discuss "Pulsed Field Ablation Versus Sham to Treat Atrial Fibrillation: The PFA-SHAM Randomized Clinical Trial." The panel examines the trial's sham-controlled evidence for the effects of pulsed field ablation on atrial fibrillation recurrence, quality of life, AF burden, and psychological well-being, while considering placebo effects, study limitations, and the applicability of the findings to clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the design, patient population, endpoints, and key findings of the PFA-SHAM randomized clinical trial.
2. Evaluate the effects of pulsed field ablation compared with a sham procedure on atrial fibrillation recurrence, AF burden, quality of life, and psychological well-being.
3. Assess the trial's limitations, potential placebo effects, and applicability to the management of patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation.
Host: Cinzia Monaco, MD, PhD
Guests: Kinan Kneizeh, MD and Konstantinos Vlachos, MD, PhD
Disclosures:
C. Monaco
• No relevant disclosures
K. Kneizeh
• No relevant disclosures
K. Vlachos, MD, PhD
• No relevant disclosuresThe Lead Episode 169: A Discussion of Radiofrequency Ablation Produces Stiffer Atrial Lesions Than Pulse Field Ablation: In vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance elastography in pigs
17/09/2026 | 18 mins.In this episode of The Lead, host Deep Chandh Raja, MBBS, MD, PhD, FHRS, is joined by Kars Neven, MD, PhD, and David Chieng, MBBS, CCDS, to discuss the journal article, Radiofrequency Ablation Produces Stiffer Atrial Lesions Than Pulse Field Ablation: In vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance elastography in pigs. Together, they discuss the study's comparison of atrial lesions produced by radiofrequency ablation and pulse field ablation using in vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance elastography in pigs.
Learning Objectives
Review the study's comparison of atrial lesions produced by radiofrequency ablation and pulse field ablation.
Discuss the use of in vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance elastography to evaluate atrial lesions in pigs.
Examine the differences in atrial lesion stiffness observed following radiofrequency and pulse field ablation.
Host: Deep Chandh Raja, MBBS, MD, PhD, FHRS
Guests: Kars Neven, MD, PhD and David Chieng, MBBS, CCDS
Disclosures:
D. Raja
No relevant disclosures
K. Neven
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Boston Scientific, Biosense Webster, Inc., Lifetech Scientific
Stock Options-Privately Held: Field Medical
D. Chieng
No relevant disclosuresThe Lead Episode 168: A Discussion of Weight Loss in Older Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, The LOSE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial
10/09/2026 | 0 mins.Description:
In this episode of The Lead, host Jenelle Dziano, PhD candidate, is joined by Roopinder Sandu, MD, MPH, FHRS and Louise Segan, MBBS, MPH, PhD to discuss the journal article, Weight Loss in Older Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, The LOSE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial. Together, they review the findings of the LOSE-AF randomized clinical trial examining weight loss in older patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
Learning Objectives
Review the key findings of the LOSE-AF randomized clinical trial examining weight loss in older patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
Discuss the role of weight loss in the management of older patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
Examine the clinical implications of the study findings for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
Host: Jenelle Dziano, PhD candidate
Guests: Roopinder Sandu, MD, MPH, FHRS and Louise Segan, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Disclosures:
J. Dziano
No relevant disclosures
R. Sandu
No relevant disclosures
L. Segan
No relevant disclosuresThe Lead Episode 167: A Discussion of The Long-Term Outcomes of Left Bundle-Branch Pacing vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure (The HeartSync-LBBP Randomized Clinical Trial)
03/09/2026 | 33 mins.In this episode of The Lead, host Deepak Pasupula, MD, MPH, FHRS, is joined by Zaniar Ghazizadeh, MD, and Pugazhendhi Vijayaraman, MD, FHRS, to discuss the journal article, The Long-Term Outcomes of Left Bundle-Branch Pacing vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure (The HeartSync-LBBP Randomized Clinical Trial). Together, they review the long-term outcomes of left bundle-branch pacing compared with biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure and discuss the findings of the HeartSync-LBBP randomized clinical trial.
Learning Objectives
Review the long-term outcomes of left bundle-branch pacing compared with biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure.
Discuss the findings of the HeartSync-LBBP randomized clinical trial.
Examine the clinical implications of comparing left bundle-branch pacing with biventricular pacing in heart failure.
Host: Deepak Pasupula, MD, MPH, FHRS
Guests: Zaniar Ghazizadeh, MD and Pugazhendhi Vijayaraman, MD, FHRS
Disclosures:
D. Pasupula
No relevant disclosures
Z. Ghazizadeh
No relevant disclosures
P. Vijayaraman
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Medtronic
Research: Medtronic
Fellowship Support: MedtronicThe Lead Episode 166: A Discussion of Relationship Between Time-to-First Atrial Tachyarrhythmia Recurrence and Atrial Fibrillation Burden: Implications for Trial Design
27/08/2026 | 15 mins.In this episode of The Lead recorded at EHRA, host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, is joined by Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Sanjiv M. Narayan, MD, PhD, FHRS, to discuss the journal article, Relationship Between Time-to-First Atrial Tachyarrhythmia Recurrence and Atrial Fibrillation Burden: Implications for Trial Design. Together, they examine the relationship between time to first atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence and atrial fibrillation burden and discuss the implications of these measures for clinical trial design.
Learning Objectives
Review the relationship between time-to-first atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence and atrial fibrillation burden.
Discuss how different measures of atrial fibrillation recurrence and burden may influence the interpretation of clinical trial outcomes.
Examine the implications of atrial fibrillation burden and time-to-first recurrence for the design of future atrial fibrillation trials.
Host: Christopher Kowalewski, MD
Guests: Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH and Sanjiv M. Narayan, MD, PhD, FHRS
Disclosures:
C. Kowalewski
No relevant disclosures
T. Baykaner
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
Research: NIH, Boston Scientific
S. Narayan
Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: UpToDate, Inc, LifeSignals, Abbott Medical, TDK Inc.
Research: National Institutes for Health
Intellectual Property Rights: University of California Regents
Stocks – Privately Held: Physcade
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