Forrest Health is First In State to Treat Patients with Novel Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (March 11, 2024) Forrest Health is pleased to announce treatment of its first patients with the Medtronic PulseSelect™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System. PFA, a breakthrough technology, uses pulsed electric fields to treat atrial fibrillation (AF), and is for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal (a sudden increase of symptoms) or persistent AF.

Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the PulseSelect PFA system effectively, efficiently, and safely treats both paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

AF is a progressive condition that affects more than 60 million people worldwide. Without early intervention, AF can progress, becoming more sustained over time. Progression of AF is associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular admissions, heart failure, and mortality, along with a reduced quality of life.

The PulseSelect PFA system delivers pulsed electric fields through an ablation catheter designed specifically to interrupt irregular electrical pathways in the heart that trigger AF. Current ablation technologies rely on thermal effects to target cardiac tissue and risk damage to additional collateral structures in the heart. PFA is a breakthrough ablation technology that uses pulsed electric fields to efficiently isolate the pulmonary veins for the treatment of AF. Because the mechanism of cell death is non-thermal, the risk of collateral structure damage is potentially lower.

“AF is a growing cardiac concern worldwide and we are seeing more patients coming in looking for treatment,” said Cardiac Electrophysiologists, Mark Borganelli, MD, FACC, and Diego Alcivar, MD, FACC. “The PulseSelect PFA system – which is now FDA-approved – can provide patients with a treatment option that doesn’t cause unwanted injury to surrounding tissues like traditional ablation technologies – helping physicians put patient safety first. We are pleased to have treated our first patients with this new technology, and we look forward to helping advance the future of AF treatment by offering innovative solutions to the people of South Mississippi.”

If you or someone you know has AF, talk to your doctor to see if PFA is a possible treatment option. Risks may include serious complications and injuries to cardiac and other body structures. The PulseSelect™ PFA system should only be used by or under the supervision of a physician that performs pulsed field ablation procedures.

For more information on cardiac services, visit forresthealth.org/heart.

About Forrest General’s Cardiac Services

Forrest General’s Heart and Vascular Services delivers expert care from board-certified cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons. Services range from diagnostic testing, heart surgery and structural heart treatment to interventional cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation and vascular treatment. For more information, visit www.forresthealth.com/heart.