The Lead Podcast presented by Heart Rhythm Society

The Lead Episode 170: A Discussion of Pulsed Field Ablation Versus Sham to Treat Atrial Fibrillation: The PFA-SHAM Randomized Clinical Trial

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 Sha

The 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

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, R

The Lead Episode 168: A Discussion of Weight Loss in Older Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, The LOSE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial

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 th

The 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)

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 articl

The Lead Episode 166: A Discussion of Relationship Between Time-to-First Atrial Tachyarrhythmia Recurrence and Atrial Fibrillation Burden: Implications for Trial Design

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 j

The Lead Episode 165: A Discussion of Left Atrial Appendage Closure or Medical Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation (The CLOSURE-AF Trial)

In this episode of The Lead recorded at HRS2026, host Danesh Kella, MBBS, FHRS is joined by Jeffrey S. Healey, MD, FHRS and Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS to discuss the jour

The Lead Episode 164: A Discussion of Digital Twin–Guided Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia

Recorded at HRS2026, this episode of The Lead features host Christopher Kowalewski, MD, in conversation with Junaid A.B. Zaman, MA, MD, PhD, CCDS, and Patrick Boyle, BS,

The Lead Episode 163: A Discussion of Conduction System vs Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure, The PhysioSync-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

Recorded at EHRA 2026, this episode of The Lead features host Melissa Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, FHRS, in conversation with Sana Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, FHRS, and Wei Hua, MD, FHR

The Lead Episode 162: A Discussion of Atrial Fibrillation Screening According to Genetic Risk: A Secondary Analysis of the Randomized LOOP Study

In this episode of The Lead, host Tina Baykaner, MD, MPH, is joined by Christopher Kowalewski, MD, and Marco Perez, MD, to discuss the journal article, Atrial Fibrillatio

The Lead Episode 161: A Discussion of 20 Years: Clinical Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Symptomatic Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

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

Episode 160: A Discussion of Real-time smartphone alerts during atrial fibrillation episodes with implantable cardiac monitors and wearable devices: SMART-ALERT study

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, a

The Lead Episode 159: A Discussion of Atrial Mechanical Contraction Predicts Cerebrovascular Risk in Patients With Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy and Sinus Rhythm

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,

The Lead Episode 158: A Discussion of Device-Related Complications in Transvenous Versus Subcutaneous Defibrillator Therapy During Long-Term Follow-Up: The PRAETORIAN-XL Trial

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 Comp

The Lead Episode 157: A Discussion of Predicting Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients With Sarcoidosis Using a Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Model

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 a

The Lead Episode 156: A Discussion of The Association Between Atrial Fibrillation Burden and Quality of Life: A Substudy of the SHAM-PVI Trial

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 As

The Lead Episode 155: A Discussion of 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)

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 j

The Lead Episode 154: A Discussion of Safety and Effectiveness of a Dual-Energy Focal Ablation Catheter to Treat Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: 6- Month Results of the FlexPulse IDE Study

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 Effe

The Lead Episode 153: 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

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

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 anticoagula