New AFib therapy available at Medical City Heart Hospital
Pulsed field ablation is a leading-edge treatment for atrial fibrillation, with benefits including short procedure time and improved safety.
Dallas, TX – An active retiree and exercise enthusiast was the first patient at Medical City Heart Hospital to benefit from a leading-edge treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common type of irregular heart rhythm. The hospital is among the first in Texas to perform the new pulsed-field ablation procedure.
Pulsed-field ablation uses non-thermal electrical pulses to target precise areas of the heart, destroying cells that trigger AFib. Traditional ablations have used heat energy or extreme cold to treat problematic heart cells, which risks damaging surrounding tissue.
Tomi Parr, 70, was the first to undergo pulsed field ablation at Medical City Heart Hospital. About two weeks after her procedure, Parr got back on her exercise bicycle and resumed water aerobics classes.
“I’ve had nothing but a good experience during my recovery,” says Parr, a resident of Canyon, Texas. “I’m used to pushing myself hard and exercising five days a week. I’m not having issues with my heart racing anymore.”
The new ablation shortens procedure time, helping patients resume their daily lives quicker, and may be used to cure occasional or persistent AFib.
“Pulsed-field ablation is one of the biggest advancements in treating heart rhythm disorders in years,” says Javier E. Sanchez, MD, the electrophysiologist who conducted the first procedure at Medical City Heart Hospital. “This is a safe and effective therapy that will improve the quality of life for many patients.”
“It takes highly skilled, world-class physicians to utilize this leading-edge treatment and technology,” says Jay deVenny, CEO of Medical City Dallas and Medical City Heart Hospital. “This advanced treatment for AFib is another reason so many trust us as the destination of choice for heart care in North Texas and beyond.”
AFib can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure. Symptoms include:
- Fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Extreme fatigue
- Lightheadedness
Learn more about treatment for heart arrythmias on the heart arrythmias page for Medical City Heart Hospital.