The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society

Atrial Fibrillation

Catheter Ablation

Electrophysiology

Ventricular Tachycardia

Heart Failure

Pulse Field Ablation

Heart Rhythm Society

Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Artificial Intelligence

Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing

Cardiac Electrophysiology

Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Machine Learning

Hospital VT Ablation Volume

Post-Procedural Complications

Pulsed Field Ablation

Left Bundle Branch Pacing

Stroke Risk Stratification

Heart Failure Monitoring

The Lead – a weekly journal review podcast that is designed to keep you up to date and informed on the latest publications and hottest topics in electrophysiology. Key takeaways, in-depth interpretations, and informative interviews are all fitted into 15 minute time slots, so that they fit easily into your busy schedule. Click the link below to learn more!

22 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	162	Founded	3 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	CoursesEducation

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Latest Episodes

A Discussion of Exercise Capacity and Quality-of-Life Improvements after Catheter Ablation in Patients with Clinically Asymptomatic Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

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-o... more

28 May 2026 • 18 min

The Lead Episode 151: Heart Rhythm 2026 Late-Breaker Coverage: A Discussion of Outcomes of Left Atrial Appendage Closure versus Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Ablation: A Sub-Analysis of the CHAMPION-AF Clinical Trial

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 ... more

21 May 2026 • 33 min

The Lead Episode 152: A Discussion of Outcomes of Left Atrial Appendage Closure versus Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Ablation: A Sub-Analysis of the CHAMPION-AF Clinical Trial (New England Journal of Medicine)

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 el... more

21 May 2026 • 22 min • Most popular

The Lead Episode 148: HRS 2026 Late-Breaker Coverage, A Discussion of Ventricular Intramyocardial Navigation and Tachycardia Ablation Guided by Electrograms (VINTAGE): First-in-Human Experience with a Novel Therapy for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias

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 Vent... more

14 May 2026 • 16 min

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NEJM This WeekNEJM Group

Recent Guests

Jenelle Dziano

From the Adelaide University in Australia

Adelaide University

Episode: A Discussion of Exercise Capacity and Quality-of-Life Improvements after Catheter Ablation in Patients with Clinically Asymptomatic Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Scott Brancato

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist at the Oregon Clinic

Oregon Clinic, Portland, Oregon

Episode: The Lead Episode 151: Heart Rhythm 2026 Late-Breaker Coverage: A Discussion of Outcomes of Left Atrial Appendage Closure versus Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Ablation: A Sub-Analysis of the CHAMPION-AF Clinical Trial

Rakesh Gopinathannair

Cardiac Electrophysiologist and Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology Labs

Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute; University of Missouri, Columbia

Gregory Marcus

Endowed Professor of Atrial Fibrillation Research at UCSF; editor of accompanying NEJM editorial

University of California, San Francisco

Episode: The Lead Episode 152: A Discussion of Outcomes of Left Atrial Appendage Closure versus Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Ablation: A Sub-Analysis of the CHAMPION-AF Clinical Trial (New England Journal of Medicine)

Ammar Killu

Associate Professor of Medicine; leads the appendage closure practice

Mayo Clinic, Rochester

Jason Jacobson

Associate Professor and Director of Complex Arrhythmia Ablation Program

Westchester Medical Center

Kyoko Soejima

Expert in VT ablation

Unknown (Tokyo-based; discussed at conference)

Episode: The Lead Episode 148: HRS 2026 Late-Breaker Coverage, A Discussion of Ventricular Intramyocardial Navigation and Tachycardia Ablation Guided by Electrograms (VINTAGE): First-in-Human Experience with a Novel Therapy for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias

John Sapp

Expert in VT ablation

Dalhousie University

Jim Freeman

Guest discussing study design and results

Episode: The Lead Episode 150: Heart Rhythm 2026 Late-Breaker Coverage: A Discussion of Total Fatal Adverse Events Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Reported in an FDA Mandatory Reporting System: A Matter of Concern? The TiFFANY Study

Host

Deep Chandh Raja

Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology with involvement in educational and professional societies.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings

The best way to stay up to date on recent EP Literature
The best way to stay up to date on recent EP Literature.
Apple Podcasts
5
heart burner
United States3 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Content is highly technical but provides practical implications for patient care and practice.

Listeners appreciate concise, expert-driven takeaways on complex EP topics.

The show is seen as a reliable, evidence-based quick-read for busy professionals.

Guest lineups often feature leading clinicians and researchers in electrophysiology.

Audience values clear discussion of trial limitations and real-world applicability.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#127	United States/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#91	Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#38	New Zealand/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#104	Switzerland/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#110	Denmark/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#116	Finland/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Lead Episode 146: Late Breaker Coverage: A Discussion of LEAP2: A First-In-Human Study of a Chronically-Implanted Novel Leadless Pacemaker for Conduction System Pacing

Q: Given the high early dislodgement rate, what changes in device design or imaging could improve durability and safety for future iterations?

Potential improvements include optimizing the implant angle, employing intracardiac echocardiography more widely to ensure precise engagement with endocardial surfaces, and developing stronger anchoring mechanisms to prevent dislodgement, though these may increase procedural cost and complexity.

The Lead Episode 146: Late Breaker Coverage: A Discussion of LEAP2: A First-In-Human Study of a Chronically-Implanted Novel Leadless Pacemaker for Conduction System Pacing

Q: What are the most important criteria for confirming left bundle branch capture in this leadless system, and how reliable are practical criteria compared to more formal measures?

Practical criteria such as a left bundle branch morphology on lead V1 and a ventricular activation time under 74 ms are reasonable for a feasibility setting, but they may miss nuanced aspects of true left bundle capture; more specific approaches include demonstrating a transition from non-selective to selective left bundle pacing and observing LV septal capture, potentially supported by maneuvers like decremental pacing or ventricular extra stimuli.

The Lead Episode 143: A Discussion of The Empirical Evidence in the Successful Anatomical Ablation of Idiopathic LV Summit Ventricular Arrhythmias

Q: Do the authors' findings suggest limitations in epicardial mapping or the overall approach to LV Summit VT ablation?

Yes, limitations include sparse epicardial activation data, limited intramural mapping, and the possibility that epicardial proximity does not always indicate the true earliest activation site due to variable conduction speeds. The discussion emphasizes using comprehensive endocardial mapping, adjunctive imaging, and intramural assessment to guide ablation decisions, especially when epicardial approaches are constrained.

The Lead Episode 143: A Discussion of The Empirical Evidence in the Successful Anatomical Ablation of Idiopathic LV Summit Ventricular Arrhythmias

Q: What do you think are the main findings in the study, and how might this influence ablation practice for LV Summit VT?

The study shows that in many patients the earliest endocardial activation site aligns with the endocardial breakout, and that targeting the endocardial activation site can yield successful elimination and non-inducibility. This challenges the assumption that the epicardial site closest to the epicardial breakout is always the best ablation target and suggests that conduction velocity and intramural factors play a significant role in breakthrough patterns, potentially reshaping mapping priorities.

The Lead Episode 141: A Discussion of Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Catheter Ablation in Obese Patients: A Real-World Data Analysis

Q: What are the main limitations of using a large administrative database for this analysis?

Limitations include lack of data on drug start time and dosing, unclear adherence, potential misclassification of AF events and procedures, unmeasured confounders such as varying obesity duration and comorbidity management, and possible coding errors or incomplete capture of events, all of which can bias the observed associations.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show focuses on up-to-date electrophysiology literature, translating recent studies into practical takeaways and practical interpretations. Episodes commonly feature expert clinicians and researchers discussing novel ablation techniques, pacing strategies, and device therapies, with a strong emphasis on safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes. A notable strength is the synthesis of study findings with real-world implications, including procedural nuances, trial limitations, and potential guideline implications. Listeners are likely clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals who want concise, data-driven insights to inform practice and discussions with peers or sponsors in the cardiac rhythm space.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. This Week in Cardiology
2. Eagle's Eye View: Your Weekly CV Update From ACC.org
3. Cardionerds: A Cardiology Podcast
4. Heart Rhythm TV Pod
5. NEJM This Week

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 162 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jenelle Dziano
2. Scott Brancato
3. Rakesh Gopinathannair
4. Gregory Marcus
5. Ammar Killu
6. Jason Jacobson
7. Kyoko Soejima
8. John Sapp

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