2022 AF Symposium: Pulsed Field Ablation Using a Focal Electrode Catheter
I’ve written a new report from the 2022 AF Symposium. The presentation included a video of the speaker performing the Pulsed Field Ablation. Note: PFA is not yet approved by the FDA, but is in clinical trials.
Dr. Atul Verma of Southlake Regional Health Center in Toronto, Canada presented his talk in a somewhat unusual format. He showed a pre-recorded case of him performing a Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA). Then while the video was playing, he would lower the volume and comment live to the audience. Several panelists and audience members also joined in offering comments during his presentation.
The Patient: Was in early persistent A-Fib, with a normal heart and normal-sized atrium. The goal was to isolate the patient’s Pulmonary Veins (PVs) and posterior wall using Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA).
The Ablation System: Dr. Verma performed an ablation of a patient using the Galaxy Centauri system. The Galaxy system allows EPs to use the same focal catheters and mapping systems they now use when they ablate using point-by-point Radio Frequency (RF) energy However, the Centauri generator produces PFA pulses instead of RF.
On the video, when Dr. Verma would make a point-by-point dot lesion using PFA…to continue reading my report. go to: Pulsed Field Ablation Using a Focal Electrode Catheter by Dr. Atul Verma.
For the background, concepts and treatment strategies associated with the evolving technology of Pulsed Field Ablation, see my 2020 AF Symposium report: Pulsed Field Ablation—Emerging Tech for Atrial Fibrillation.