First Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) Procedure Performed in Northeastern Indiana at Lutheran Hospital

10/9/2024

PFA uses electrical pulses to target malfunctioning cells in atria then ablate

Fort Wayne, IN – Lutheran Hospital is pleased to announce that the first pulsed field ablation (PFA) procedure has been performed in northeastern Indiana by Dr. Jason Rodriguez, electrophysiologist with Lutheran Health Physicians. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat that can come and go, or happens in sudden episodes. With the incidence of atrial fibrillation on the rise, effective and efficient therapies allow physicians to treat more patients, reduce complications, and benefit overall public health.

Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure to treat AFib symptoms. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) uses electrical pulses to target malfunctioning cells in the atria in order to stop AFib symptoms and return one’s heartbeat back to normal. PFA is an alternative to standard-of-care thermal ablation. A non-thermal approach for the treatment of drug-refractory, recurrent, symptomatic, intermittent atrial fibrillation (AF), it is proven to be an effective treatment option for patients.

“Providing our patients with outstanding heart care is a priority for the cardiology team throughout Lutheran Health Network. We recognize Dr. Jason Rodriguez for striving to continually improve the patient care experience and outcomes by providing the city’s first cardiac ablation procedure using pulsed field ablation,” said Lorie Ailor, chief executive officer of Lutheran Hospital.

“It is rewarding to continually pursue technological advancements as they benefit my patients who suffer with Afib. While we work to control this disease through lifestyle changes, diet and medication, we now have the capability at Lutheran Hospital to help people control Afib through PFA, “ said Dr. Jason Rodriguez.

During a traditional ablation procedure, a catheter is guided to the interior of the heart and generates extreme temperatures – hot or cold – to destroy targeted areas in the heart associated with abnormal heart rhythms. The PFA System relies on tissue selective, non-thermal electric fields to ablate heart tissue and avoid disrupting surrounding structures. Data from a clinical trial found that therapy with the device was as safe and effective as conventional thermal ablation, with statistically shorter ablation times and a quicker learning curve for physicians.

AFib can put you at risk of other complications including blood clots, stroke and heart failure. Common treatments to manage AFib include lifestyle changes, such as eating a heart-healthy diet and watching alcohol and caffeine intake; medications, which can manage the heart rhythm or reduce the risk of blood clots; and procedures such as cardioversion or cardiac ablation, to restore a normal heart rhythm.

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