{"id":75110,"date":"2024-04-10T09:13:32","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T15:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=75110"},"modified":"2024-04-11T15:00:17","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T21:00:17","slug":"pulsed-field-ablation-to-treat-afib-available-at-uchealth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pulsed-field-ablation-to-treat-afib-available-at-uchealth\/","title":{"rendered":"Pulsed field ablation to treat AFib available at UCHealth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dr. Amar Trivedi, UCHealth cardiac electrophysiologist, and Brett Shreve, UCHealth nurse, perform the first pulsed field ablation procedure to treat a patient’s atrial fibrillation on March 12, 2024, at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado. Photo by Sonya Doctorian, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most commonly treated heart rhythm disorders in the United States. A new treatment for atrial fibrillation called pulsed field ablation is available at UCHealth in Colorado.<\/p>\n

UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies is leading the way in treating AFib by becoming one of the first hospitals in the nation to offer pulsed field ablation, and the procedure is offered in more UCHealth locations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the most anticipated new technology in electrophysiology in more than 10 years,\u201d said Robert Wagner, senior director of UCHealth\u2019s cardiovascular services in northern Colorado.<\/p>\n

Pulsed field ablation may help anyone who has symptoms of AFib. Here are answers to questions you may have about atrial fibrillation and pulsed field ablation.<\/p>\n

What is atrial fibrillation (AFib)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When the heart beats normally, its muscular walls tighten and squeeze to force blood out and around the body, then it relaxes while it fills with blood again. This is a heartbeat, and the timing of the heartbeat is controlled by the heart\u2019s electrical system\u2014its own pacemaker.<\/p>\n

If that electrical system isn\u2019t working correctly, irregular heartbeats, also called arrhythmias, may occur. The most common type of arrhythmia is called atrial fibrillation, or AFib.<\/p>\n

In some cases, AFib is monitored by a physician or managed through medication, but AFib can become dangerous when it affects the heart\u2019s ability to pump blood. This can lead to heart failure or blood clots that can cause a stroke.<\/p>\n

AFib is a progressive condition that affects up to 6.1 million Americans and that number is expected to nearly double by 2030, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s become an epidemic. That\u2019s why it\u2019s very important that we find treatment solutions that are safe, effective and efficient,\u201d said Dr. Amar Trivedi<\/a>, a UCHealth clinical cardiac electrophysiologist who recently performed the first pulsed field ablation at MCR.<\/p>\n

According to the American Heart Association, one in three individuals will be affected by AFib during their lifetime.<\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of AFib?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cBeyond just having palpitations, people feel run down and tired they often attribute it to getting older but often these symptoms are due to AFib,” Trivedi said.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of AFib include:<\/strong><\/h3>\n