Clin Asst Prof Tan Vern Hsen

MBBS, MRCP, CCDS, CEPS, ECDS, ECES, FAMS

Senior Consultant

Changi General Hospital

Specialty: Cardiology

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About

Education and Training

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

Awards

Research Interests

Publications

Conditions Treated By This Doctor

Abnormal Heart Rhythm Arrhythmia Cardiac Arrest (Sudden Cardiac Death) Coronary Artery Disease Coronary Heart Disease Heart Attack Heart Failure Valvular Heart Disease

Clinical Appointments

Senior Consultant

Cardiology

Academic Appointments

Clinical Asst Professor

Cardiovascular Sciences Academic Clinical Programme

Examiner

Cardiovascular Sciences Academic Clinical Programme

Adjunct Teaching Faculty, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University

Clinical Senior Lecturer and MBBS Examiner - Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore

About

Dr. Tan Vern Hsen is a Senior Consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist with the Department of Cardiology at Changi General Hospital (CGH). He received his primary medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, MBBS) in 2001, and obtained membership in the Royal College of Physicians United Kingdom (MRCP UK) in internal medicine in 2005.

Dr. Tan joined the Cardiology department at CGH in 2008 and completed his advanced specialist training in Cardiology in 2011. He underwent fellowship training in adult cardiac electrophysiology at Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, Canada, from 2012 to 2014, and subsequently underwent advanced fellowship training in catheter ablation of complex arrhythmia in Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, from March 2019 to April 2019. His research interests are in electrophysiology and pacing.

Education and Training

Certification Examination in Electrophysiology (ECES) by European Heart Rhythm Association 2016
Certification Examination in Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (ECDS) by European Heart Rhythm Association 2015
Certification Examination for Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Physician (CCDS) and Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Physician (CEPS) by the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) 2013
Fellowship in Cardiac Electrophysiology 2012 – 2014
MRCP (UK) 2005

MBBS 2001

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

Director of Electrophysiology Service, Department of Cardiology, Changi General Hospital, 2018 - Present
Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, Changi General Hospital, 2019 - Present
Clinical Assistant Professor and Examiner, SingHealth Duke-NUS Cardiovascular Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, 2019 - Present
Adjunct Teaching Faculty, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 2020 - Present
Clinical Physician Faculty Member, SingHealth Cardiology Senior Residency Program, 2019 - Present

Clinical Senior Lecturer and MBBS Examiner, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 2017 - Present
Fellow, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS), 2012 - Present
Instructor, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), 2008 - Present
Member, Changi General Hospital Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, 2015 - Present
Member, Changi General Hospital Peer Review Learning Quality Assurance Committee, 2015 - Present

Awards

Gold Award, Best Poster Presentation, 4th Academy Medicine of Malaysia (AMM) - Academy Medicine of Singapore (AMS) - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (SAR) Academy of Medicine (HKAM) Tripartite Congress and 55th Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine Virtual Scientific Meeting, 2022
Reviewer Recognition Awards, Singapore Medical Journal, 2019, 2020 & 2021
Silver Award, Singapore Health Quality Service Awards, April 2018 – March 2019
Long Service Award (10 Years), Changi General Hospital, 2019
Merit Award, Changi General Hospital CGH QI Festival Award(Office of Improvement Science), 2017

2nd Prize, Medical Oral Presentation, Eastern Health Alliance Annual Scientific Meeting 2016
Outstanding Faculty Award, SingHealth Residency, 2016
2nd Prize, Medical Oral Presentation, Eastern Health Alliance Annual Scientific Meeting 2015
Best of Young Research, Europace EHRA Cardiostim, 2015
Winner, Free Paper Presentation, 27th Annual Scientific Meeting Singapore Cardiac Society, 2015
2nd Prize, Poster Competition, Eastern Health Alliance Annual Scientific Meeting 2014
Winner, Interesting Case Presentation, Singapore Cardiac Society Electrophysiology Seminar 2014
Winner, Poster Competition, Libin Research Day 2014
Finalist, 3rd Resident's Case Challenge, 17th Arrhythmia Update PLUS 2014
Best Electrophysiology Trainee Abstract, Candadian Cardiovascular Congress 2013
Recipient, Singapore Public Healthcare Clinician Special Recognition Award 2013
Recipient, Changi General Hospital Critical Staff Retention Award 2012
Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Award 2012
3rd Prize, Young Investigator's Award Singapore Cardiac Society 24th Annual Scientific Meeting 2012
3rd Prize, Medical Oral Paper Competition, Eastern Health Alliance Inaugural Scientific Meeting 2011
Best Abstract in Oral Presentation Award, 16th Angioplasty Summit Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Asia Pacific (TCTAP) 2011
Winner, Free Paper Presentation, 22nd Singapore Cardiac Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2010
3rd Prize, Clinical Poster Award, Changi General Hospital Annual Scientific Meeting 2009
Champion, Evidence Based Medicine Competition, 28th World Congress of Internal Medicine 2006
Seremban Hospital Excellent Service Award, 2005

Research Interests

Electrophysiology
Pacing

Publications

Tan Vern Hsen, Ong Sea Hing, Tan Chong Hiok, Department of Cardiology, Changi General Hospital; ST segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction following Elective Direct Current Synchronised Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation: Case Report; Singapore Medical Journal 2010 Jul; 51(7): e118-21. PMID: 20730386.
J Chow, Tan CH, Tan VH, Ong SH, Goh YS. Transadial percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction including high risk patients: Experience in a single centre without cardiothoracic surgical backup. Singapore Medical Journal. 2011 Apr; 52(4): 257. PMID: 21552786.
Connolly SJ, Eikelboom J, Joyner C, Diener HC, Hart R, Golitsyn S, Flaker G, Avezum A, Hohnloser SH, Diaz R, Talajic M, Zhu J, Pais P, Budaj A, Parkhomenko A, Jansky P, Commerford P, Tan RS, Sim KH, Lewis BS, Van Mieghem W, Lip GY, Kim JH, Lanas-Zanetti F, Gonzalez-Hermosillo A, Dans AL, Munawar M, O'Donnell M, Lawrence J, Lewis G, Afzal R, Yusuf S; AVERROES Steering Committee and Investigators; Apixaban in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation; N Engl J Med. 2011 Mar 3;364(9):806-17. PMID: 21309657.
VH Tan, CH Tan, J Chow, KS Tan, SH Ong, YS Goh, HW Gan, TA Soe, PP Goh, CS Chew, J Lingamanaicker; One-Year Clinical Safety and Efficacy Study on Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Using Endeavour Resolute Zotarolimus Eluting Stent Versus Driver Bare Metal Stent: A Single Centre Study; Bangladesh Journal of Cardiology. 2011 September; Vol.03, No.02
Chow J, Tan CH, Tin AS, Ong SH, Tan VH, Goh YS, Gan HW, Tan KS, Lingamanaicker J. Feasibility of transradial coronary angiography and intervention using a single Ikari left guiding catheter for ST elevation myocardial infarction. J Interv Cardiol. 2012 Jun;25(3):235-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8183.2011.00710.x. Epub 2012 Feb 7. PMID: 22308978.

Tan VH, Yap J, Hsu LF, Liew R. Catheter ablation of ventricular fibrillation triggers and electrical storm. Europace. 2012 Dec;14(12):1687-95. doi: 10.1093/europace/eus050. Epub 2012 Mar 19. PMID: 22431442.
Yap J, Tan VH, Hsu LF, Liew R. Catheter ablation of ventricular fibrillation storm in a long QT syndrome genotype carrier with normal QT interval. Singapore Med J. 2013 Jan;54(1):e1-4. PMID: 23338923.
Tan VH, Wilton SB, Kuriachan V, Sumner GL, Exner DV. Impact of programming strategies aimed at reducing nonessential implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies on mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2014 Feb;7(1):164-70. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.113.001217. Epub 2014 Jan 20. PMID: 24446023.
Tan VH, Duff H, Kuriachan V, Gerull B. Congenital long QT syndrome: severe torsades de pointes provoked by epinephrine in a digenic mutation carrier. Heart Lung. 2014 Nov-Dec;43(6):541-5. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2014.07.004. Epub 2014 Sep 16. PMID: 25236808.
Tan VH, Duff H, Gerull B, Sumner G. Early repolarization syndrome: A case report focusing on dynamic electrocardiographic changes before ventricular arrhythmias and genetic analysis. HeartRhythm Case Rep. 2015 Apr 2;1(4):213-216. doi: 10.1016/j.hrcr.2015.03.001. PMID: 28491551; PMCID: PMC5419330.
Vern Hsen Tan, Debbie Ritchie, Connor Maxey, Robert Sheldon; Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Prospective Assessment of the Risk of Vasovagal Syncope during Driving; JACC Clinical Electrophysiology, April 01, 2016; 2(2): 203-208. doi:10.1016/j.jacep.2015.10.006. PMID: 29766871.
Yeo C, Tan VH, Wong KCK; Cardiology Department, Changi General Hospital; Exercise-induced syncope in a 22-year-old man; Heart, October 25, 2016; doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2016-310421. PMID: 27798055.
Oh YZ, Tan VH, Wong KC. Concealed conduction of premature ventricular complexes resulting in AV nodal block. J Arrhythm. 2017 Oct;33(5):528-529. doi: 10.1016/j.joa.2017.04.010. Epub 2017 May 12. PMID: 29021867; PMCID: PMC5634674.
Chiw Yeh Lim, Kelvin Wong, Colin Yeo, Khim Leng Tong, Vern Hsen Tan; Cardiology Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore; Clinical versus Echocardiographic Parameters in Assessing Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy Response in a Multiethnic Asian Population; Annals, Academy of Medicine Singapore, 2018 Mar;47(3):127-130. PMID: 29679092.
Vern Hsen Tan, Kelvin Wong; Cardiology Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore; Late Rachet Syndrome involving Isolated Left Ventricular Lead Dislodgement post CRTD Generator Change; Journal of Arrhythmia, February 16, 2018; 00: 1-3; doi: 10.1002/joa3.12040. PMID: 29657598; PMCID: PMC5891428.
C Yeo, TTD Chong, VH Tan, K Wong; Cardiology Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore; Recurrent Shocks from Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Implanted 6 Months Ago. What is the Mechanism?; Journal of Arrhythmia, October 10, 2018; doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12126. PMID: 30805063; PMCID: PMC6373654.
C Yeo, VH Tan, K Wong; Cardiology Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore; Pulmonary vein reconnection mapping with Advisor HD Grid demonstrating local EGM which were not visible on Tacticath ablation catheter; Journal of Arrhythmia; November 06, 2018; 0 0 :1–3; doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12144. PMID: 30805060; PMCID: PMC6373640.
Tan VH, Ching CK, Wong KCK. Clinical approach to the knotting diagnostic quadripolar catheter during zero-fluoro electrophysiological study. Clin Case Rep. 2019 Mar 29;7(5):926-929. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.2123. PMID: 31110716; PMCID: PMC6509920(editorial by Koji Kumagai).
Tarakji KG, WRAP-IT Investigators; Antibacterial Envelope to Prevent Cardiac Implantable Device Infection; N Eng J Med, 2019 May 16; 380(20): 1895-1905. Doi 10.1056/NEJMoa1901111. Epub 2019 Mar 17. PMID: 30883056.
Vern Hsen Tan, Colin Yeo, Kelvin Wong; Cardiology Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore; Suboptimal Biventricular Pacing. What is the mechanism?; Journal of Arrhythmia, May 14, 2019; doi: 10.1002/joa3.12207. PMID: 31410239; PMCID: PMC6686292.
Tan VH, Lyu MZ, Tan PC, Wong LC, Yeo C, Wong KCK. Utility of directional high-density mapping catheter (Advisor^TM HD Grid) in complex scar-related atrial tachycardia. J Arrhythm. 2019 Nov 10;36(1):180-183. doi: 10.1002/joa3.12256. PMID: 32071639; PMCID: PMC7011828.
Chung FP, Lin CY, Lin YJ, Chang SL, Lo LW, Hu YF, Tuan TC, Chao TF, Liao JN, Chang TY, Tan VH, Kuo L, Wu CI, Liu CM, Vicera JJB, Chen CC, Chin CG, Liu SH, Cheng WH, Chou CY, Lugtu IC, Liu CH, Chen SA. Application of noninvasive signal-averaged electrocardiogram analysis in predicting the requirement of epicardial ablation in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Heart Rhythm. 2020 Apr;17(4):584-591. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2019.11.018. Epub 2019 Nov 19. PMID: 31756530.
Vern Hsen Tan, Colin Yeo, Kelvin Cheok Wong; Cardiology Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore; Wide Complex Tachycardia Cycle Length Shorter than the Narrow Complex Tachycardia. What is the Mechanism?; J Electrocardiol. 2020 Mar-Apr;59:171‐173. doi:10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2020.02.002. Epub 2020 Feb 11. PMID: 32163760.
Tan VH, Yeo C, Tan TN, Wong K. His Bundle Pacing in Amiodarone-Induced Complete Heart Block, QT Prolongation, and Torsade de Pointes. JACC Case Rep. 2020 May 20;2(5):780-784. doi: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2020.02.028. PMID: 34317347; PMCID: PMC8302033.
Tay JCK, Cai XJ, Lin J, Liang S, Him AL, Hamid SBS, Wong KCK, Yeo C, Tan VH. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in a low-volume center using contemporary technology. Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc. 2020 Oct 23;31:100661. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2020.100661. PMID: 33145393; PMCID: PMC7591346.
Cai XJ, Tay JCK, Kui SL, Tin AS, Tan VH. Impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Singapore Med J. 2021 Nov;62(11):563-567. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2020159. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33256355; PMCID: PMC8804411.
Tiew WJ, Wong VL, Tan VH, Tan YC, Lee EM. A Real-world Experience of the Safety and Efficacy of Non-vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin in Patients with Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation-A Single-centre Retrospective Cohort Study in Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2020 Nov;49(11):838-847. doi: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2020184. PMID: 33381777 (editorial by Eric TS Lim, Felix YJ Keng).
Yeo C, Wang Y, Tan VH. Wide complex tachycardia captured on smartwatch. Heart. 2021 Apr;107(8):626-684. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2020-318621. PMID: 33766853.
Zhong X, Guo W, Wei J, Tang Y, Liu Y, Zhang JZ, Tan VH, Zhang L, Wang R, Jones PP, Napolitano C, Priori SG, Chen SRW. Identification of loss-of-function RyR2 mutations associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Biosci Rep. 2021 Apr 30;41(4):BSR20210209. doi: 10.1042/BSR20210209. PMID: 33825858; PMCID: PMC8062958.
Hoon Chin Lim, Yi-En Clara Seah, Arshad Iqbal, Vern Hsen Tan, Shieh Mei Lai. Randomised Controlled Trial Assessing Head Down Deep Breathing Method Versus Modified Valsalva Manoeuvre for Treatment of Supraventricular Tachycardia in the Emergency Department. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. Volume 22, No. 4: July 2021. DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2021.4.51108. PMID: 35354004; PMCID: PMC8328181.
Tan ESJ, Chan SP, Seow SC, Teo WS, Ching CK, Chong DTT, Tan VH, Chia PL, Foo DCG, Kojodjojo P; HRAS investigators. Outcomes of supraventricular tachycardia ablation: Results from the Singapore ablation and cardiac devices registry outcomes of supraventricular tachycardia ablation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2021 Nov 18. doi: 10.1111/pace.14410. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34792208.
Jhobeleen De Leon, Swee-Chong Seow, Elaine Boey, Rodney Soh, Eugene Tan, Hiong Hiong Gan, Jie Ying Lee, Lisa Jie Ting Teo, Colin Yeo, Vern Hsen Tan, Pipin Kojodjojo, Adopting permanent His bundle pacing: learning curves and medium-term outcomes, EP Europace, 2021; euab278, doi.org/10.1093/europace/euab278. PMID: 34849722 (editorial by Sergio Richter).
Pung X, Hong DZ, Ho TY, Shen X, Tan PT, Yeo C, Tan VH. The utilization of atrial sensing dipole in single lead implantable cardioverter defibrillator for detection of new-onset atrial high-rate episodes or subclinical atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Arrhythmia. 2022;00:1–10. doi. org/10.1002/joa3.12675. PMID: 35387136; PMCID: PMC8977580.
Yeo C, Mon AA, Tan VH, Wong K. Validation of MyDiagnostick tool to identify atrial fibrillation in a multi-ethnic Asian population. Singapore Med J. 2022 Feb 24. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2022028. Epub ahead of print.PMID: 35196846.
Fong KY, Wang Y, Yeo C, Tan VH. Case report: Wide-complex tachycardia one week post-CRT-D implantation in a patient with pre-existing left bundle branch block. J Electrocardiol. 2022 May-Jun;72:82-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2022.03.011. Epub 2022 Mar 29. PMID: 35390706.
Tan VH, Loo G, Tun MH, De Leon J, Boey E, Soh R, Tan E, Gan HH, Lee JY, Teo JTL, Yeo C, Seow SC, Kojodjojo P. Acute and medium-term outcomes of His bundle pacing with or without an electrophysiology recording system using propensity score matching. Heart Rhythm. 2022 Aug;19(8):1394-1396. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2022.04.011. Epub 2022 Apr 18. PMID: 35447309.
Kui SL, Yeo C, Teo L, Him AL, Syed Hamid SB, Wong K, Tan VH. A single-centre experience of His bundle pacing without electrophysiological mapping system: implant success rate, safety, pacing characteristics and one-year follow up. Singapore Med J. 2022 Jun 2. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2022066. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35651294.
Fong KY, Ng CJR, Wang Y, Yeo C, Tan VH. Subcutaneous Versus Transvenous Implantable Defibrillator Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials and Propensity Score-Matched Studies. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Jun 7;11(11):e024756. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.024756. Epub 2022 Jun 3. PMID: 35656975; PMCID: PMC9238723.
Tan ES, Lee JY, Boey E, Soh R, Seow SC, Teo LJ, Yeo C, Tan VH, Kojodjojo P. Predictors of loss of capture in left bundle branch pacing: A multicenter experience. Heart Rhythm. 2022 Jun 8:S1547-5271(22)02064-1. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2022.06.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35690252.
P. Priyadarshinee, Yixian Tan, Balamurali B T, Cindy Lin, Christopher Johann Clarke, Enyi Tan, Vern Hsen Tan, Siang Chew Chai, Colin Yeo, Jer-Ming Chen. Investigating Synchronized Optical Ballistocardiography vs Electrocardiography for Pathological and Healthy Adults. 2022 IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing and Communications (SPCOM), 2022, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/SPCOM55316.2022.9840778.
Yeo, C, Tan, VH, Wang, Y. Omnipolar activation EGM to identify the earliest breakout site of atrial tachycardia. J Arrhythmia.&2022;00:1 4. doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12757