Atrium Health Navicent is now offering a new treatment for patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), which minimizes risk and targets areas of the heart associated with abnormal heart rhythms. This summer, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center became the only hospital in central Georgia to offer FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation for the treatment of AFib.
“Health care is constantly evolving and we’re proud to be on the leading edge, offering new technology that reduces risk for patients suffering from AFib, helping them to live healthier, fuller lives,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Sanford G. Duke.
AFib, is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Over 33 million people ages 55 and older have been diagnosed globally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AFib causes 454,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S. By year 2030, about 12 million people in the U.S. will have AFib. AFIb causes about 1 in 7 strokes.
The FARAPULSE system is a new alternative to traditional thermal ablation, which is commonly used to treat patients with AFib. During a traditional ablation procedure, a catheter is guided to the interior of the heart and generates extreme temperatures to destroy targeted areas in the heart associated with abnormal heart rhythms. FARAPULSE, however, relies on tissue selective, non-thermal, electric fields to eliminate heart tissue and avoid damage to surrounding areas.
“Procedures using the FARAPULSE system are quicker, reducing the time patients spend under anesthesia, and give surgeons an additional tool so we can be more precise,” said Dr. Felix Sogade, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center’s AFib medical director. “Precision and shorter procedure times result in safer treatment and better outcomes for our patients.”
Atrium Health Navicent is one of only four hospital systems in the nation — and the only one in Georgia — to receive the triple crown of heart accreditations by the American College of Cardiology. These designations include Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation, Heart Failure Accreditation and Atrial Fibrillation with EPS Accreditation.
Atrium Health Navicent was one of the first in the region to implement another treatment for AFib, the Watchman device, and is one of only two locations south of Atlanta, and the only one in our region, to offer Transaortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
Patients interested in learning more about FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation are encouraged to have a conversation with their doctor. To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.”
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