A team of cardiology specialists from Capital Health’s Cardiac Electrophysiology Program, part of its Heart and Vascular Institute, performed the first pulsed field ablation at Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC). Pulsed field ablation is a new, minimally invasive approach for treating symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AFib) that is resistant to treatment with medication. Capital Health is the first to offer this procedure in Mercer and Lower Bucks counties.
“Traditional radiofrequency ablation uses electrical energy delivered through a catheter (a long, thin tube) to destroy areas in the heart that typically trigger AFib. Sometimes this type of ablation can cause damage to surrounding tissues,” said Dr. Scott Burke, medical director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and a board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiac electrophysiologist with Capital Health Cardiology Specialists. “We’re excited to offer our patients this new pulsed field technology that uses non-thermal electrical energy to precisely treat the affected cardiac tissue in less time than traditional thermal ablations and with lower risk of harming surrounding healthy structures.”
Atrial fibrillation occurs when the top two chambers of the heart (the atria) beat too fast and with an irregular rhythm. This can decrease the heart’s pumping efficiency, leading to a higher risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications than those with normal heart rhythms. With the incidence of AFib on the rise, a safe, effective, and efficient therapy like pulsed field ablation allows the experts in Capital Health’s Electrophysiology Program to treat more patients, reduce their complications, and improve the well-being of the larger community.
Capital Health’s Cardiac Electrophysiology team, with experts from Capital Health Cardiology Specialists, performs procedures like pulsed field ablation to manage and treat patients with conditions that involve abnormal electrical behavior of the heart. To make an appointment at Capital Health Cardiology Specialists, or to find an office near you, visit capitalhealthcardiology.org.
Capital Health Heart and Vascular Institute offers comprehensive care with a multi-specialty approach highlighted by the most up-to-date techniques and treatment options. With multiple locations throughout the greater Mercer and Bucks county region, the Institute features the most sophisticated technology guided by highly trained clinical experts in medical fields such as cardiac surgery, cardiac electrophysiology, general and interventional cardiology, nephrology, podiatry, interventional radiology, vascular surgery, and wound management and hyperbaric medicine. For more information, visit www.capitalheartandvascular.org.