Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, in conversation with Christian Sohns, MD, and Pierre Jaïs, MD, about the journal article, 20 Years: Clinical Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Symptomatic Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. Together, they discuss the study's long-term clinical outcomes following pulmonary vein isolation in patients with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and explore the implications of two decades of follow-up.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the long-term clinical outcomes reported after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
• Discuss the implications of 20-year follow-up data for the treatment of patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation.
• Examine how long-term outcome data may inform clinical decision-making for catheter ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Host: Christopher Kowalewski, MD

Guests: Christian Sohns, MD and Pierre Jaïs, MD

Disclosures:

C. Kowalewski

• No relevant disclosures

C. Sohns

• No relevant disclosures

P. Jaïs

• Ownership/Partnership/Prinicipal: inHEART
• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Biosense Webster, Inc., Boston Scientific, Medtronic

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS, in conversation with Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, and Kenneth Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS, about the journal article, Real-time smartphone alerts during atrial fibrillation episodes with implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices: SMART-ALERT study. Together, they discuss the study findings and explore the use of real-time smartphone alerts in conjunction with implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices during atrial fibrillation episodes.

Learning Objectives

• Review the design and key findings of the SMART-ALERT study evaluating real-time smartphone alerts during atrial fibrillation episodes.
• Discuss the use of implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices for real-time detection and notification of atrial fibrillation episodes.
• Explore the potential clinical implications of integrating smartphone alerts with cardiac monitoring technologies.

Host: Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS

Guests: Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH

Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS

Disclosures:

M. Lloyd

· Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Other

T. Baykaner

· Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific

· Research: NIH, Boston Scientific

K. Ellenbogen

· Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Inc., Abbott

· Royalty Income: Wiley-Blackwell, Elsevier

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 relationship between atrial mechanical contraction and cerebrovascular risk in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy who are in sinus rhythm.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the key findings of the study examining atrial mechanical contraction and cerebrovascular risk in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy and sinus rhythm.
• Discuss the association between atrial mechanical contraction and cerebrovascular risk in this patient population.
• Explore the potential clinical implications of assessing atrial mechanical function in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.

Host: Michael S. Lloyd, MD, FHRS

Guests:

Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH

Prashanthan Sanders, MBBS, PhD, FHRS

Disclosures:

M. Lloyd

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Other

T. Baykaner

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
• Research: NIH, Boston Scientific

P. Sanders

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Boston Scientific, Abbott Medical
• Other Financial Relationships: Medtronic PLC, Pacemate, CathRx
• Research: Abbott, Becton Dickinson, Calyan Technologies, Ceryx Medical, Biosense Webster, CathRx, HelloAlfred, Medtronic, Inc., Abbott Medical

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 associated with transvenous and subcutaneous defibrillator therapy.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the long-term follow-up results of the PRAETORIAN-XL Trial comparing transvenous and subcutaneous defibrillator therapy.
• Discuss device-related complications associated with transvenous and subcutaneous implantable defibrillator systems.
• Examine the clinical considerations of defibrillator therapy selection based on long-term device-related outcomes.

Host: Robert Schaller, DO, FHRS

Guests: Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH and Maulin Shah, MD

Disclosures:

R. Schaller

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Philips, Abbott Medical
• Officer/Trustee/Director/Committee Chair/Other Fiduciary Role: Imricor
• Other Financial Relationship: Other

T. Baykaner

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Volta Medical, Medtronic, Pacemate, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Medical, Boston Scientific
• Research: NIH, Boston Scientific

M Shah

• No relevant disclosures

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 sudden cardiac death risk in patients with sarcoidosis and discuss the potential implications of these findings.

Learning Objectives

• Review the methodology and key findings of a multimodal artificial intelligence model developed to predict sudden cardiac death in patients with sarcoidosis.
• Discuss the potential role of artificial intelligence–based risk prediction in the evaluation of patients with sarcoidosis.
• Examine the clinical implications of sudden cardiac death risk stratification in this patient population.

Host: Sandeep A Saha, MD, MS, FHRS

Guests: Suraj Kapa, MD, FHRS and Albert Joseph Rogers, BSE, MBA, MD, FHRS

Disclosures:

Sandeep A Saha, MD, MS, FHRS

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee/Speaker's Bureau: Medtronic, Inc.

Suraj Kapa, MD, FHRS

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Abbott

• Stock Options: Nanowear Inc.

• Other Non-Financial Relationships: Biosense Webster, Inc., Boston Scientific

Albert Joseph Rogers, BSE, MBA, MD, FHRS

• Research: National Institutes of Heath, American Heart Association

• Ownership/Partnership: WearLinq, Inc.

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Other

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 substudy of the SHAM-PVI Trial and discussing their relevance to patient-centered outcomes.

Learning Objectives

• Review the key findings from the SHAM-PVI Trial substudy examining the association between atrial fibrillation burden and quality of life.
• Discuss the relationship between atrial fibrillation burden and patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes.
• Explore the implications of assessing both arrhythmia burden and quality of life when evaluating treatment outcomes in atrial fibrillation.

Host: Christopher Kowalewski, MD

Guests: John M. Mandrola, MD and Nassir F. Marrouche, MD, FHRS

Disclosures:

Christopher Kowalewski, MD

No relevant disclosures

John M. Mandrola, MD

No relevant disclosures

Nassir F. Marrouche, MD, FHRS

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee/Speaker's Bureau: Biosense Webster, Inc., Boston Scientific, AtriCure, Inc., Abbott, Sanofi

• Research: Abbott, Biosense Webster, Inc., Medtronic, Siemens, General Electric, Boston Scientific, Sanofi, Samsung

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 review the study design and findings, examining pulsed field ablation and anti-arrhythmic drug therapy as first-line treatment approaches for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Learning Objectives

• Review the design and key findings of the AVANT GUARD study comparing pulsed field ablation with anti-arrhythmic drug therapy as first-line treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation.
• Discuss the potential role of pulsed field ablation as an initial treatment strategy for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
• Examine the comparative considerations of ablation-based and pharmacologic approaches in the management of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Podcast Contributors:

Host: Christopher C Cheung, MD, MPH, FHRS

Guests: Edward P. Gerstenfeld, MD, MS, FHRS and Paul C Zei, MD, PhD, FHRS

Disclosures:

Christopher C Cheung, MD, MPH, FHRS

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Medtronic, Inc., Biotronik, Biosense Webster, Inc., Abbott

Edward P. Gerstenfeld, MD, MS, FHRS

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Medtronic, Inc., Biosense Webster, Inc., Abbott, Boston Scientific, Varian Medical Systems
• Other Non-Financial Relationships: Adagio Medical, Boston Scientific, Abbott Medical
• Research: Abbott Medical
• Officer, Trustee, Director, Committee Chair, or Other Fiduciary Role: American College of Cardiology

Paul C Zei, MD, PhD, FHRS

• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee/Speaker's Bureau: Varian Medical Systems, Biosense Webster, Inc., Abbott, Boston Scientific, APT Medical
• Research: Biosense Webster, Inc.

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 effectiveness of a dual-energy focal ablation catheter for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Learning Objectives

• Review the six-month results of the FlexPulse IDE Study evaluating a dual-energy focal ablation catheter for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
• Discuss the safety outcomes reported in the study and their implications for clinical practice.
• Examine the effectiveness findings of the dual-energy focal ablation approach in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Podcast Contributors

Sandeep A Saha, MD, MS, FHRS
Babak Nazer, MD
Rajesh Kabra, MD, FHRS

Host and Contributor Disclosure(s):

S. Saha
• Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee/Speaker's Bureau: Medtronic, Inc.

•Research: Siemens Healthineers

R. Kabra
•Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: AtriCure, Inc., Biosense Webster, Inc., Milestone Pharmaceuticals, AltaThera Pharmaceuticals
•Research: Abbott Medical, Medtronic, Inc.