Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) is now one of the most recommended procedures for treating atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of cardiac arrhythmia. Previously trending and widely used in the United States, this cardiac treatment method is now available in Indonesia. Compared to 3D & 2D cardiac ablation, PFA offers several advantages in managing AF.
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Understanding Pulse Field Ablation (PFA)
Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) is a catheter ablation procedure that uses electrical pulses to treat atrial fibrillation. Unlike 3D & 2D cardiac ablation, which delivers heat and cold using a single-point catheter to treat premature ventricular complex (PVC), PFA utilizes electrical energy with a multipoint or multipolar catheter to target multiple areas simultaneously.
Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia that occurs when the upper and lower chambers of the heart do not work in sync. This condition causes the heart to beat very fast and irregularly.
Common symptoms of atrial fibrillation include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Advantages of Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) for Atrial Fibrillation
1. Shorter Procedure Duration
One of the key benefits of Pulse Field Ablation in treating atrial fibrillation is its shorter procedure time.
As mentioned earlier, PFA uses a multipoint or multipolar catheter that can target multiple areas of the heart at once. Since atrial fibrillation affects multiple areas, traditional 2D or 3D ablation requires multiple applications with a single-point catheter to address all affected areas. In contrast, PFA can treat up to five points simultaneously, significantly reducing procedure time.
For reference, traditional 3D & 2D cardiac ablation typically takes 3-4 hours, whereas PFA only takes about 2 hours. This shorter duration also means reduced anesthesia time, making the procedure more comfortable for patients.
2. Faster Patient Recovery
Another advantage of Pulse Field Ablation is faster patient recovery. This method causes less inflammation and discomfort compared to other cardiac ablation techniques.
Patients undergoing PFA often experience a quicker recovery, with many being able to go home on the same day with minimal discomfort. One of the discomforts reduced by PFA is chest pain due to inflammation, which is sometimes experienced in heat-based cardiac ablation procedures.
3. Safer for Surrounding Heart Tissues
Pulse Field Ablation is considered safer for surrounding heart tissues. Unlike traditional 3D & 2D ablation, which uses heat or cold energy, PFA employs high-voltage electrical pulses.
In conventional cardiac ablation, heat or cold energy is used to address electrical system damage in the heart. However, PFA’s high-voltage electrical energy minimizes the risk of injury to nearby tissues, such as the esophagus, nerves, and other structures.
4. Lower Risk of Complications
The PFA procedure has a lower risk of complications.
Serious complications from this procedure are reported in less than 1% of cases, whereas thermal-based cardiac ablation carries a complication risk of up to 2.5%.
5. Long-Term Effectiveness
Early studies suggest that Pulse Field Ablation is as effective as traditional 3D & 2D ablation. In some cases, PFA even provides better long-term outcomes compared to conventional ablation techniques.
Pulse Field Ablation at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri
Since late 2023, Pulse Field Ablation has been approved for use and has been widely adopted in hospitals across the United States for treating atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Now, patients with cardiac arrhythmia no longer need to travel abroad to undergo this procedure, as Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri has made it available.
Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri is the first hospital in Banten to successfully perform Pulse Field Ablation for treating atrial fibrillation.
If you are interested in learning more about Pulse Field Ablation or considering the procedure, feel free to visit Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri.
Book an appointment today through WhatsApp Chat, the Book Appointment feature, or the Care Dokter app, available for download on Google Play and the App Store. These tools help streamline visits, manage queue numbers, and provide complete information about the procedure.