pulsed field ablation

[Anonymouskd]

has anyone had a cardiac pulsed field ablation? If yes how successful was it and any problems with brain lesions or other side effects? Thanks!

[Paulbounce]

Hi Anon.

Can't help as I haven't had one. However, this thread is of interest to me so I am following it.

Paul

[Kingdaddy]

yes, I had it May 25th at the Cleveland Clinic for early persistent AFIB. Been in NSR ever since. I posted details on this site about this previously. I’m in the Affera Clinical trial. Extremely happy with the decision. No idea how one would get “brain lesions” from it. The procedure does less harm to the tissue than either Cryo or RF ablation.

[SeanJax]

brain lesions due to procedure, I.e. air get in your arterial blood thru the catheter or blood clots during the procedure. They will use heparin to prevent it. Pick an expert ep to do it. The same brain lesions can happen during other ablation types, i.e. cryoablation or RF ablation. They call it TIA, kind of small stroke. Trust your ep to do the right thing. I did have a brain MRI before and one after the PFA. No brain lesions.

It is a marvelous technique but its success depends on the ep almost 90 % of the time. I don’t go into the technical details here avoiding to scare you . In a nutshell PFA is a cake walk no side effects whatsoever for me. They gave me 8 weeks of sick leave and I even resumed my work after 2 weeks since I was bored watching movies.

All the guidelines post ablation do not apply to me.

[Smartafib]

Yes I had PFA in September 2021 and so far it is very successful. I was a participant in the Advent trial so I did not know whether or not I had the PFA until September 22., at which time I was told I had pulsed field ablation. I still have palpitations from time to time as I have since my youth, however I have not been in afib. I monitor with Kardia and Apple Watch.

Hope this is helpful.

[Anonymouskd in reply to Smartafib]

thanks for responding! I’m hoping that the procedure becomes more available in my area.

[Smartafib]

Forgot to answer your question in earlier post about PFA. I had no issues with brain lesions. Had a small blood clot develop a few days after the procedure in leg where they entered the vein. I was taking warfarin before and after and my dosage was briefly increased and it disappeared.

Overall I had a very good experience and would do it again. I believe from beginning to end it was no more than two hours. A relative had radio frequency ablation around the same time and recently had a short bout with afib again.

[Anonymouskd in reply to Smartafib]

thanks so much for sharing your experience!Hope it becomes a regular procedure in my area!

[JoseT]

I had PFA last May 2022 for vagal afib. 90 minutes under sedation. been in NSR ever since

[Anonymouskd in reply to JoseT]

what a great result! Thanks for responding. Hoping it becomes standard in my area!

[Paulbounce]

Hey up. I have been following the thread. I want to jump on the train.

In an unselected population of patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), the pentaspline pulsed field ablation (PFA) catheter achieved pulmonary vein isolation with 99.9% success and good procedure times.***

This one was first done in the UK last summer - I think it's possible to get a referral. I'm going to shoot an email to the three Doctors involved and dig a bit deeper. I'll keep you all updated.

Paul

***Medscape

[Anonymouskd in reply to Paulbounce]

thanks for the support. I’m in Canada so thanks for the thought. Did live in England years and years ago though!

[Paulbounce in reply to Anonymouskd]

Hi Anony. It was approved in Canada 2020. Worth you following up!

Paul

[Anonymouskd in reply to Paulbounce]

have followed up. My EP says not standard treatment yet but should be soon.

[TouchVeena in reply to Paulbounce]

Do you have any more information on PFA availablity in Canada/ I would make the trip from USAand pay for it.

[Paulbounce in reply to TouchVeena]

I can't find much online about the procedure in Canada. I suggest starting a new thread and asking there - many members are from Canada and maybe able to help.

In the meantime contact the link below to see if they can offer some information.

Paul

bostonscientific.com/en-EU/...

[Teresa156 in reply to Paulbounce]

I’d be really interested in what you find out Paul ( I’ve been following this thread too). I’ve been hoping that PFAs become more generally done in the UK at some point in the future as it’s a route I’d also like to explore.

[Paulbounce in reply to Teresa156]

Hi Teresa.

I've found out where its done and who does it. I have to file my tax returns by midnight tonight (always leave things to the last minute me) so it won't be today. I will keep everyone updated though.

Paul

[Teresa156 in reply to Paulbounce]

Good luck with the return ( I’d be the same 😊)

[roberttressell]

I had my PFA 3 weeks ago in UK. Still troubled by almost constant ectopics but let’s see how it goes for the 3 months. Very hopeful! PFA reduces chances of side effects and collateral damage from the procedure.

[Anonymouskd in reply to roberttressell]

good luck with the blanking period which I understand happens with PFA recovery also. Let us know how you are doing.

[Funkygirli]

I had one in September 2022, and only had a 10-second episode since… but I often feel unstable, so I might have to have it done again sometime in the future…

[Millbrook]

Hi. My husband had PFA done on 20/3/23. He had paroxysmal afib that developed into persistent afib in Jan. So far it’s been great and all is well. Two months after the procedure he wore the heart halter for 3 days and no afib was detected.

He needs time for the scars to form and the heart to heal- no heavy lifting and only light exercise. He is no longer on flecanide but still on rivaroxaban which his cardiologist intends to keep him on for a year.

It seems pulse field ablation is now the gold standard.

[Anonymouskd in reply to Millbrook]

thank you for your reply. Hope all goes well with him!

[hartbeast]

Glad to follow this here, thanks Anon. It looks as if it may finally be available in the US (outside of trials) in early 2024. Here's a link to a recent global study my EP co-authored, and that he's been telling me about for years:

ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161...

Last night, I just had my first AFib episode in almost 3 years (cryoablation in 2018, partial success, but Flecainide has kept it in check since Dec 2020). I'm definitely asking my EP about it again next week at my annual appointment!