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Review
. 2022 Jul;24(7):793-799.
doi: 10.1007/s11886-022-01697-2. Epub 2022 May 24.

Pulsed Field Ablation: a Novel Therapeutic Tool for Catheter-Based Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Andrew E Darby  1
Affiliations
Review

Pulsed Field Ablation: a Novel Therapeutic Tool for Catheter-Based Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Andrew E Darby. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose of review: With catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation becoming increasingly common, the field of electrophysiology is searching for tools to improve procedural efficacy and safety. This review focuses on a novel ablation tool, pulsed field ablation, which promises to push the needle forward. Pulsed field ablation uses high-frequency electrical pulses to ablate cardiac tissue.

Recent findings: A number of pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown pulsed field ablation offers an efficient means of ablating cardiac tissue with minimal risk of collateral injury. Pulsed field ablation provides a non-thermal means of cardiac tissue ablation with minimal risk of injury to adjacent structures. Future studies will define the optimal current delivery, number of lesions needed to achieve the desired tissue effect, and how best to integrate pulsed field ablation catheters into 3-dimensional mapping systems.

Keywords: Arrhythmia; Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac; Catheter ablation; Electroporation; Pulsed field ablation.

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