Interventional procedure overview of pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation

Unmet need

AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting about 2% of the adult population. The prevalence is likely increasing because it is associated with age, underlying heart disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension, which are also increasing in prevalence in the UK population. If left untreated, AF is a significant risk factor for stroke, other morbidities and mortality. When standard medications for AF do not work or are unsuitable, catheter ablation procedures are commonly offered. Most catheter ablation methods use thermal energy, by either burning (in RFA) or freezing (in CBA) heart tissue that conducts the irregular electrical impulses. Thermal ablation carries a risk of damaging neighbouring tissues. PFA uses electrical instead of thermal energy. Heart cells are very sensitive to electrical energy. So, PFA may be able to target heart tissue more precisely than thermal ablation, which may reduce the risk of damaging surrounding tissues like the oesophagus, nerves, and blood vessels.