Pulsed Field Ablation Treatment Now Available at Mansfield Hospital

Cardiac patients at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital can now access new atrial fibrillation treatment that uses small bursts of high energy to counteract irregular heart tissue locally.

Andrea Uradu, MD, OhioHealth electrophysiologist, told Mansfield News Journal Reporter Zach Tuggle pulsed field ablation (PFA) was officially approved by the FDA at the beginning of 2024. Its' been utilized in Richland County since October.

Along with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation, PFA is now a favored treatment method for AFib.

“I think the safety profile for PFA is significantly better,” Dr. Uradu said.

While the new procedure is available full time, doctors will continue to use RFA and cryoablation when necessary, according to Mitchell Steltzer, DO, OhioHealth electrophysiologist.

“Pulsed field ablation is very exciting technology, but it’s not for everybody,” Dr. Stelzer said.

AFib ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that blocks errant heart signals. This method identifies and gets rid of the irregular cells responsible for sending the incorrect messages onward.

"We're just destroying abnormal tissue," Dr. Uradu said.

After gaining entry with a catheter, Drs. Uradu and Stelzer are tasked with mending the problem. In years past, their only options were to freeze or burn the cells causing issues. However, now they have the brand new option of pulsed field ablation, which uses short bursts of electricity to pinpoint abnormal cells and get rid of them.

Early-stage AFib patients are most likely to be considered for treatment using pulsed field ablation, but each patient will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Utilizing PFA has severely reduced the chances of severe complications.

Many people have no idea they have AFib, due to the initial symptoms being so minor or nonexistent. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, lightheadedness, irregular heartbeat, racing pulse, chest pain and anxiety.

While these symptoms can be common, if you suspect you might have atrial fibrillation, talking to your primary care physician is the first step to a healthy rest of your life.

“Quality of life, that's what atrial fibrillation management is about,” Dr. Stelzer said. "Treating this and trying to get you back into a normal rhythm is really what we're focusing on for the ablative technologies."