A new technique for addressing an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation is showing promise for improving patients’ quality of life, reducing risks during treatment, and improving health outcomes. 

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common type of arrythmia or abnormal heart rhythm. It affects more than five million adults in the U.S and the number of people affected increases each year. Abnormal heart rhythm can decrease lifespans and cause symptoms that can significantly affect quality of life such as fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath and trouble sleeping.  

Traditionally, AFib is treated with medications called antiarrhythmics or with a procedure called an ablation. In the past, the energy source used to surgically remove the tissue and cure the arrhythmia was either hot energy, called radiofrequency ablation or cold energy, called cryo-ablation. These longstanding traditional methods electrically disrupt heart cells that create an irregular heart rhythm. Because of the risks with traditional ablation techniques and an overall cure rate of 70-75%, research has been ongoing to identify a better method of treating or curing AFib.   

A new ablation energy source called pulsed field ablation has recently been approved to treat patients with AFib and is now available to patients at Spartanburg Medical Center. 

Pulsed field ablation, or PFA, delivers high voltage pulsed electrical fields to specifically target tissue to disrupt cells causing irregular heart rhythms while preserving surrounding tissue.   

A procedure that in the past could take up to seven hours using traditional methods is now taking two hours or less, said Dr. David Rodak, a cardiologist with Medical Group of the Carolinas – Cardiology   – Spartanburg. Pulsed field ablation is also more targeted than other methods, meaning the technology is less likely to cause damage to healthy tissue or surrounding structures. 

“We want to focus on the diseased tissue and not healthy tissue outside of it,” Dr. Rodak said. 

More than 100 patients have undergone this procedure since Spartanburg Regional began offering this treatment earlier this year. 

“We want to use every tool possible to address the increasing burden of atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Rodak said. “Pulsed field ablation has the potential to be a game changer.” 

With traditional methods of treatment, AFib patients have seen a 70-75% cure rate, while the pulsed field ablation technique has the potential to improve cure rates, decrease complications during the procedure, and decrease the time of the procedure.  

Dr. Rodak said he hopes the advancements in AFib treatment will allow earlier treatment that will hopefully improve outcomes and quality of life.  

He said genetics can play a role in AFib as well as lifestyle, weight control, exercise, diet, staying active, and treating other conditions associated with AFib such as obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension.  

Currently, only 5 percent of patients who are eligible for ablation procedures have the procedure performed.  This is partly because of the length of the procedure and the risks involved. Dr. Rodak said he is hopeful that with a shorter surgery time, fewer risks, and better outcomes, more patients will take advantage of ablation therapy. 

“It’s too early to tell where this is going but initial data from pulsed field ablation is pretty impressive, so we’ve embraced it,” he said.