radiofrequency ablation then pulsed field ablation for Afib

Sounds promising

by Gemita - 2024-10-19 05:16:58

Godrew, no personal experience although I continue to follow new AF treatments with great interest should I need to go down this route in the future. 

Have you by chance tried asking this specific question on an AF support group, like for example?

https://www.stopafib.org/

Although many members with pacemakers continue to have Radio Frequency Ablations (RFA) for Atrial Fibrillation (AF), I do not recall hearing from a member who has had a Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA)?

Until now, catheter ablations to treat AF have mostly used thermal energy, by either burning or freezing problematic heart tissue.  However, this carries a risk of damaging neighbouring tissue such as the oesophagus or the phrenic nerve which controls the diaphragm. 

PFA technology uses a non-thermal electric field energy source that targets heart tissue whilst avoiding damaging these other structures.  This is a catheter therapy which uses short bursts of high-energy electrical pulses to target heart tissue that causes AFib.  

A PFA has the potential to interact with a cardiac device by causing electromagnetic interference so you might want to discuss this with your EP.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38775921/#:~:text=Background%3A%20Pulse%20field%20ablation%20(PFA,of%20electromagnetic%20interference%20(EMI).

Since PFA was only approved by the FDA last December, there won’t be much experience out there.  Our Royal Papworth Hospital performed the UK’s first PFA in June 2022 and I attach a brief press release, together with another more detailed link on PFA in case of interest.  It all sounds very promising but I would want to go to an EP with expertise performing this new procedure to give you the best possible chance of success.

Good luck if you try it.  Hope you stay safe, recover quickly and that it provides some long term respite from your AF?

https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/our-hospital/latest-news/uk-first-pulsed-field-ablation-atrial-fibrillation

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1235317/full

Experience

by sgmfish - 2024-10-19 16:41:12

My EP and I have discussed using PFA next time I have an ablation (I've had 2 RFA ablations so far). I am totally convinced PFA is the way of the future. After my discussion with my EP, I believe the issue is not about the risks etc of the technology itslef, but rather that it is new and EP's don't have much experience yet. I think it's kind of like going from a street bycycle to a dirt bike......both are bycycles, but the "touch and feel" is quite different.

Experience

by godrew - 2024-10-19 20:03:47

Correct it is about how many your EP has done, there are supposed to be a few less risks also. Any less risk is better.  My EP claims that since it was approved and his training that he and his team are predominantly utilizing the PFA method.  Just curious if anyone has had both methods and any different recoveries.  Have a good one.