EPLive 2026: Global Experts Convene to Advance Cardiac Electrophysiology
The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center hosted its eighth international symposium on complex arrhythmias, EPLive 2026, on May 28 and 29, 2026. The event drew 1,600 participants from across the globe, including medical professionals from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, and Italy, who gathered to observe live case studies and discuss advancements in cardiac rhythm management.
What is the focus of the EPLive symposium?
EPLive serves as a specialized educational forum for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and allied health professionals focused on the treatment of complex cardiac arrhythmias—conditions characterized by irregular heart rhythms. The symposium utilizes live case broadcasts from the St. David’s Medical Center’s Electrophysiology Center as its primary teaching tool, allowing attendees to view real-time procedures with commentary from international experts.
Dr. Andrea Natale, executive medical director of TCAI and the course director for EPLive, stated that the record-breaking attendance reflects a growing global demand for practical education and clinical collaboration. By sharing innovations in this setting, the organizers aim to accelerate progress in cardiovascular care for patients worldwide.
Which new technologies were featured at the 2026 event?
The symposium highlighted several technical innovations, most notably a streamlined procedural approach that combines atrial fibrillation ablation with left atrial appendage closure. This single-intervention strategy is designed for patients with atrial fibrillation who face a high risk of stroke. By merging the two treatments, physicians can reduce the number of required procedures and minimize potential complications.
In addition to combined interventions, the faculty presented advancements in pulsed field ablation. This non-thermal technology delivers high-energy, short-duration electrical pulses to cardiac tissue. Unlike traditional ablation methods that rely on extreme heat or cold, pulsed field ablation specifically targets cells responsible for irregular rhythms.
Where do the live case studies originate?
To provide a comprehensive view of global practices, the 2026 event featured live and recorded cases from leading medical institutions. Beyond the host site at St. David’s Medical Center, participating centers included:
- Colombia: International Arrhythmia Center at Cardioinfantil Foundation
- Italy: Centro Cardiologico Monzino
- United States: Cleveland Clinic, Houston Methodist, Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, Massachusetts General, Montefiore Einstein, St. Bernard’s Heart and Vascular Center, UC Health Center, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Professional accreditation and faculty
Medical professionals attending the symposium were eligible to receive up to 14.5 hours of Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA) Category 1 Credit™ from the American Medical Association (AMA). The faculty featured numerous specialists from TCAI, including course co-director Dr. Amin Al-Ahmad, along with Drs. John Allison, Khaled Awad, Mohamed Bassiouny, David Burkhardt, David Burkland, Robert Canby, Joseph Gallinghouse, Rodney Horton, Patrick Hranitzky, and Jason Zagrodzky.
The event continues to serve as a platform for disseminating clinical data and procedural techniques that influence standard practice in electrophysiology. Further information regarding the symposium’s curriculum and future sessions is available at the official EP-Live website.