The Heart Rhythm Society’s Annual Meeting for 2026 electrified Chicago with talks of the latest EP tech, rhythm management debates, and insights into where remote patient monitoring is headed. Here are Cardiac Wire’s top-six takeaways from electrophysiology’s biggest weekend of the year.
HRS Grows Steadily – This year’s HRS attendance numbers hit just over 10k, similar to last year’s, but where HRS reached new heights was in research. Nearly 3.7k scientific abstracts were submitted, 20 late-breakers were presented, and 150+ exhibitors showed up, signaling the growing fervor for EP science, and a blooming conference.
PFA is Here to Stay – Judging by the biggest booths and the loudest buzz, pulsed field ablation has earned its place in the EP mainstream. The medtech giants all brought their own PFA devices to the table, but there’s still plenty of room for smaller contenders like Pulse Biosciences and Arga Medtech if their tech proves superior.
What Makes a PFA Device Unique – Some PFA device makers argue their ablation catheter leads to the best results, others say its their unique wave form, or nanosecond energy frequency, but one thing is clear, innovation is at the heart of PFA design and outcomes.
EP is an Imaging-Guided Specialty – Cardiology in general is relying more and more on image guidance for better procedures and outcomes, but that’s especially true for EP. Whether it’s 4D ICE ultrasound for LAAO, or electrical mapping for ablation targets, EPs rely on imaging.
Education Holds Back RPM – Despite favorable data and viable reimbursement, conversations on the show floor suggested that a lack of education on remote patient monitoring’s benefits prevent the technology from reaching its full potential in primary care and general cardiology.
The LAAO, Ablation, and Drug Debate – Finally, one trend is clear in arrhythmia care – docs are debating the merits of old-school anti-arrhythmic drugs in the face of advanced catheter-based therapies like LAAO and ablation. This theme remains consistent across late-breakers, conversations on the floor, and debates online in EP, with some physicians becoming more wary of non-inferiority trials and what justifies an LAAO or ablation.
