An episode of atrial fibrillation can be nothing short of terrifying, causing a person’s heart to race or skip beats for minutes, hours, or could become persistent. Known as AFib, the condition can also cause symptoms such as heart racing, shortness of breath and dizziness. It can even lead to loss of consciousness or a stroke.
For some people, medicine is an effective treatment. But for those with severe symptoms or certain types of AFib, treatment can be more complex. One option is to undergo an ablation, a procedure that destroys heart tissue that causes an irregular rhythm.
Traditional Ablation vs. PFA
Traditional ablation treatments for AFib use heat or cold energy to destroy the heart tissue. Unfortunately, they can harm surrounding healthy tissue.
AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute now offers an innovative option called pulsed field ablation (PFA). PFA uses brief electrical pulses to target only the cells causing AFib. This tissue-specific approach reduces the chance of complications.
“PFA allows us to treat the source of AFib without causing harm to nearby structures like the esophagus or nerves,” explains Kenneth Yamamura MD, who is a heart rhythm specialist (electrophysiologist) at AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute. “It also leads to shorter procedure times and less anesthesia use. Recovery time may be faster as well compared to traditional ablation. Most patients return home the day after their procedure.”
Electrophysiologists at AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute have already performed over 1,000 PFA procedures, making us the first in Tampa to achieve this milestone *.
Who May Benefit
You may be a candidate for PFA if you:
• Have AFib and want to consider an alternative to medications.
• Have AFib and other conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF).
• Your AFib is not presently well controlled with medications
Your care team will evaluate your condition and recommend the treatment option that best fits your needs.
Why Choose AdventHealth Pepin Heart Institute
At Pepin Heart Institute at AdventHealth Tampa, you can feel confident knowing your heart is in expert hands. Our specialists are dedicated to early detection, accurate diagnosis and advanced treatment for AFib. A collaborative team of cardiologists, heart rhythm experts and surgeons works closely together to design the best care plan for you. With convenient locations across West Florida, we make it easier to access the care you need, close to home.
Take the Next Step
If you or a loved one is living with AFib, pulsed field ablation may be the safer, faster solution you’ve been waiting for. To learn more or schedule an evaluation, call 813-55-HEART
*With Boston Scientific
About Dr. Yamamura
Kenneth Yamamura, MD is a board-certified cardiologist specializing in cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. He has over 20 years of clinical experience and practices all areas of cardiac electrophysiology, including device implantation and ablation of cardiac arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, SVT, PVCs and ventricular tachycardia). Dr. Yamamura has special interest in the treatment of atrial fibrillation with ablation for both paroxysmal and persistent forms of the disease.
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