Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition affecting millions of Americans, and the number is expected to exceed 12 million by the end of the decade, according to the American Heart Association. AFib can lead to severe complications, including blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related issues. Timely and effective treatment is crucial in managing this condition and preventing these complications.
The Valley Hospital is advancing the treatment of AFib with pulsed field ablation (PFA), an alternative to traditional thermal ablation techniques.
What Is Pulsed Field Ablation?
Pulsed field ablation is an FDA-approved outpatient procedure used to treat AFib. The minimally invasive procedure uses pulsed electrical fields rather than traditional thermal ablation (a procedure that uses heat to remove tissue in the heart) techniques. A PFA system delivers precise pulsed electric fields through an ablation catheter, which interrupt irregular electrical pathways in the heart that trigger AFib. PFA’s pulsed electric fields efficiently isolate pulmonary veins and surrounding structures, which can result in a lower risk of collateral tissue being impacted during treatment.
The team at Valley’s Snyder Center for Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation uses both the Farapulse™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System manufactured by Boston Scientific, as well as the PulseSelect™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System manufactured by Medtronic.
Benefits of Pulsed Field Ablation
- Lower risk of collateral damage: By using pulsed electric fields instead of thermal energy, the PFA system minimizes the risk of injury to adjacent tissues.
- Effective pulmonary vein isolation: The PFA system efficiently targets and isolates the pulmonary veins, which are often responsible for triggering AFib.
- Outpatient procedure: This non-thermal approach allows for the treatment of AFib in an outpatient setting, offering convenience and reduced recovery time for patients.
If you or a loved one have AFib, you can contact Valley’s Snyder Center for Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation at 201-447-8392 to learn about PFA and other treatment options available.
