New technology available to treat AFib

Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS St. John’s Hospital recently added a new technology to help treat atrial fibrillation (AFib). The FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System is a unique alternative to thermal ablation, the traditional treatment for Afib.
 
In a typical ablation procedure, a catheter is placed inside the heart and generates extreme temperatures – hot or cold – to destroy the areas causing abnormal heart rhythms. Alternatively, the FARAPULSE PFA System uses a non-thermal electric field to disable atrial heart tissue, the tissue that is responsible for triggering atrial fibrillation, without harming surrounding structures.

“We are proud to add this life-changing technology to our high-quality heart care services and treatments for patients throughout central Illinois,” said Dr. Ziad Issa, electrophysiology physician with Prairie Cardiovascular at St. John’s. “This equipment is used effectively around the world and now allows us to treat more local patients faster, while providing yet another way to treat the patient with ablations to reduce complications and improve patients’ overall health.”

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in adults, and with the aging of the population in the U.S., it is expected to increase. It is important for the public to understand who is at risk and that there are efficient therapies, like FARAPULSE PFA and others, available to reduce complications and benefit overall public health. People with one or more of the following conditions are at higher risk and should discuss any symptoms with their doctor:

• Advanced age
• High blood pressure
• Underlying heart disease
• Drinking alcohol
• Family history
• Other chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma or hyperthyroidism