June 17, 2025
Lafayette, LA – Dr. Eoin Donnellan, electrophysiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), became the first CIS physician to use the FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib) on June 4.
Developed by Boston Scientific, the FARAPULSE PFA System is a non-thermal alternative to traditional thermal ablation for treating AFib. Unlike conventional ablation, which uses extreme heat or cold to destroy problematic heart tissue, the FARAPULSE PFA System delivers non-thermal electric fields that selectively ablate targeted tissue while sparing surrounding structures. This minimally invasive approach reduces the risk of complications associated with thermal ablation—such as damage to the esophagus, phrenic nerve, or pulmonary veins—and offers physicians a safe and effective tool for restoring a normal heart rhythm.
“Pulsed field ablation is an exciting advancement in the treatment of atrial fibrillation,” said Dr. Donnellan. “Compared to traditional ablation techniques, it offers significant improvements in procedural safety and recovery time—without compromising effectiveness. We’re proud to offer this innovative treatment to our patients.”
AFib occurs when the top two chambers of the heart, the atria, beat too fast and with an irregular rhythm (fibrillation). AFib, the most common type of arrhythmia, can decrease the heart’s pumping efficiency, which can cause blood cells to pool and stick together, forming clots in the heart, and lead to stroke. People with AFib have a higher risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications than those with normal heart rhythms.
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