if you delve into YouTube, have you seen the frequent advertisements of Farapulse pulsed field ablations out there for the general public to check out.
There’s so much more attention being paid to this extremely common malady these days after decades of relative obscurity.
The advancement in treatment is really catching a lot of attention. A lot more AFers may put their hands up asking for a PFA now that it is faster, safer, and more successful and way less time in recovery. Life without juggling those meds and no more fear of when another af attack will happen is so much better!!
This I can personally attest to.
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Racquet
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Hi Bob yes i did see a study showing outcome similar to RF though quicker and safer procedure. One thing i read was that the study was using Gen 1 PFA and now the equipment is up to Gen 3, maybe just in appearance! but lets hope performance has also improved. It will be interesting to see next comparison study results if one is done.
Hi racquet yes you are definitely correct there , it seems far more common nowadays with a lot more research , studying it and looking for improvements and success rates in treatment , this can only be a good thing for everyone who has this condition and hopefully the treatment will continue to improve all the time ...all the best andyb
Nope - I haven't let them 'barbeque' my heart yet! I may do but ATM my heart is very much in AFib but HR is well under control. Maybe I'll push my Cardio to focus on rhythm control a little more.
That's if he ever gets back from holiday and I can get an appointment too see him🤪
Farapulse is a medical technology developed by Boston Scientific for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm disorder. Specifically, it is the **FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System**, a catheter-based ablation solution designed to isolate the pulmonary veins in patients with drug-refractory, recurrent, symptomatic, paroxysmal (intermittent) AFib. Unlike traditional ablation methods that use thermal energy (heat from radiofrequency or cold from cryoablation) to destroy targeted heart tissue, Farapulse employs a non-thermal approach called **pulsed field ablation**. This technique uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses to selectively ablate cardiac tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding structures like the esophagus or phrenic nerve.
The system consists of several key components:
- **FARAWAVE™ PFA Catheter**: An over-the-wire catheter with a variable shape (basket or flower configuration) that adapts to different pulmonary vein anatomies to deliver precise ablation.
- **FARASTAR™ PFA Generator**: Generates the bipolar, biphasic electrical pulses optimized for cardiac ablation.
- **FARADRIVE™ Steerable Sheath**: Facilitates catheter navigation within the heart.
Farapulse was originally developed by a startup, Farapulse Inc. (founded as Iowa Approach by Dr. Steven Mickelsen), which Boston Scientific began investing in as early as 2014 and fully acquired in 2021 for approximately $295 million plus milestone payments. The technology received **CE Mark approval** in Europe in 2021 and **FDA approval** in the U.S. in January 2024, making it the second PFA system approved in the U.S. after Medtronic’s PulseSelect.
Clinical evidence, such as the **ADVENT trial** (a randomized controlled study), has shown that Farapulse is as safe and effective as traditional thermal ablation, with shorter procedure times and a reduced risk of complications like esophageal injury or pulmonary vein stenosis. Real-world data from over 17,000 patients in the **MANIFEST-17K registry** further supports its safety profile, reporting no instances of permanent phrenic nerve damage or esophageal fistula. The system is now widely used globally, with over 70,000 patients treated by early 2025, and continues to evolve with innovations like the navigation-enabled FARAWAVE NAV catheter.
In essence, Farapulse represents a significant advancement in AFib treatment, offering a safer, faster, and more tissue-selective alternative to conventional ablation methods.
One of the advantages I can see is that if it is faster, safer, needs less skill and therefore hopefully cheaper many more people will be offered ablation at the start of their AF journey instead of as a last resort.
It all sounds promising and very welcomed. I haven’t got this far yet, but l will feel happier when it has been performed a few times to confirm the success rate etc. The progress they are making in the treatment of AF is giving us all some hope and a better future. Thanks for info.
The key attraction to me of this new procedure is that it is safer ie less chance of collateral damage. I have already enquired with a London Clinic (Admin won't want me to mention the name as could be censored for advertising), to summarise:
Today I am celebrating six months since my PFA with Farapulse. No afib, no aflutter, and no damage to surrounding organs, which was a risk , seen on cscan prior to event. Also no pain, little discomfort. HOWEVER, all procedures have risks. I developed double pneumonia within days as result of anesthesia, and collapsed lung plus significant fluid in chest cavity , requiring thoracentesis ( removal by needle ). Xray in past week indicated still draining small amount. Finally doing Cardiac PT to regain strength.
So not a walk in the woods 🙂↔️, but would I do it over, despite 4 hr drive to Boston to have PFA? Absolutely. It’s a real improvement for many. No rhythm meds after years of complicated issues. 84 and counting.🥰. They tell me heart strong!
Wow! Tough luck on that double pneumonia complication, Polly. No doubt rare but still, very unfortunate for you.
But isn’t life so much better for us now. I didn’t realise what a horrible burden af was until I was free of it. And if, should af return because other cells have gone rogue, I wouldn’t hesitate to have done again.
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PFA Ablation this morning
Salt and sodium?? How can you no if your water intake is doing more damage than good ❤️
PFA Ablation
