Botulism Shot to the Heart May Wipe Out Erratic Rhythms

Botulinum toxin, widely embraced as the wrinkle-remover Botox, appeared to also wipe out a common and potentially deadly heart rhythm problem that can occur after open-heart surgery.

In a small study of heart bypass patients, surgeons injected the paralyzing toxin into fat pads that can build up around the heart. The results, which cut down on clot-causing heart rhythm problems, could have broader implications for about 2.7 million people in the U.S. with what’s known as atrial fibrillation.