Vitruvian Health’s Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) now offers a safer and more advanced catheter-based treatment for atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder.
The procedure, performed with the PulseSelect™ pulsed field ablation system, represents a major improvement in heart care, and HMC is the first facility between Nashville and Atlanta to offer it.
“This is the first procedure of its kind in the region and is a welcomed leap forward in treatment options for patients,” said Anand Kenia, MD, chief of cardiac electrophysiology at Hamilton Physician Group – Cardiology.
The PulseSelect™ system corrects abnormal heart rhythms by precisely targeting faulty electrical signals. During the procedure, the system uses a process called “mapping” to create a detailed picture of the heart’s electrical activity and pinpoint the source of irregular rhythms. Instead of using heat or freezing techniques, the device delivers pulsed electrical fields to disrupt abnormal heart tissue while preserving surrounding structures, such as the esophagus, veins and nerves.
Unlike traditional treatments such as radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat and can accidentally damage the esophagus, or cryoablation, which uses extreme cold and can harm the phrenic nerve that controls breathing, PulseSelect™ relies on pulsed electrical fields to precisely target abnormal heart cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
The new procedure was designed to be a safe and reliable option for patients with irregular heart rhythms, while avoiding esophageal injury, pulmonary vein narrowing, phrenic nerve damage or coronary artery spasms.
“This strong safety record makes the procedure a reliable option for patients seeking treatment for irregular heart rhythms,” Kenia said. “It is backed by 15 years of research and has proven to be highly safe and effective.”
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Hamilton Physician Group – Cardiology at 706-226-3434.