Pulse Field Ablation for AFib: Now offered at Valley View

The Heart & Vascular Center at Valley View has recently added a cutting-edge treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib), called Pulse Field Ablation (PFA). The procedure is safe, fast and precise, offering new hope for a healthier, more active life.

Treating AFib has been a cornerstone of care at the Heart & Vascular Center at Valley View under the direction of Medical Director, Frank Laws, MD. AFib is the most common heart rhythm disorder, causing irregularly irregular and often rapid heartbeats. It can lead to serious issues like stroke, heart failure and fatigue — not to mention a big hit to your quality of life.

To put it simply, PFA is a high-tech fix for a misfiring heart with AFib. Instead of using traditional ablation techniques of heat (radiofrequency) or freezing (cryoablation) to treat the problem areas, PFA uses ultra-quick electrical pulses to gently create pores in the misfiring heart cells. The pulses are lightning-fast, meaning shorter procedures, less time under anesthesia and faster recovery. Additionally, this technique targets only the heart cells causing trouble, sparing nearby structures like the esophagus and nerves. That means fewer risks and fewer side effects.

Right now, PFA is approved for people with paroxysmal (off-and-on) or persistent AFib who haven’t had success with medications. The PFA is performed under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing. A thin tube (catheter) is threaded through a vein to your heart, where it delivers the electrical pulses to the problem spots. Most patients head home the same day and are back to normal activities in just a few days. Early studies show PFA works just as well as traditional methods — but with fewer complications.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, visit vvheartcare.org.