Dr. Andrea Natale, executive medical director of TCAI, said he and his team are working on testing the second generation of the PFA system, which could lead to improved treatment and broader access to the technology.
How it works
Natale said for about the past 20 years, doctors have used treatments such as cryoablation to treat arrhythmias, which have higher risk of collateral damage to surrounding tissue. Collateral damage can include complications such as narrowing at the pulmonary vein, called pulmonary vein stenosis, heart fistulas, or other issues, he said.
However, the PFA system uses short-duration, high energy electric pulses rather than thermal energy through heat or cold, allowing for more direct treatment and less damage to surrounding tissue, he said.
While complications can arise from any treatment, he said, new technology can leave patients with better outcomes after treatment.
“You’re changing their quality of life,” he told Community Impact. “This has been the exciting part of the way this field has evolved in the last 30-35 years.”
Digging deeper
Natale started treating arrhythmias back when doctors used surgical procedures for treatment, which was more invasive. Additionally, doctors had to select patients for the procedure, making it less accessible to people with arrhythmias.
He said before surgery, patients would be given medication, “but that means for the patient to be on these drugs for the rest of their life.”
With the new technology, more patients could be considered for treatment and can mitigate health issues with a minimally invasive procedure.
Additionally, a TCAI patient’s medical team will focus on comprehensive patient care beyond treating the arrhythmia alone, he said. That includes considering other issues such as hypertension, weight, sleep apnea, inflammatory diseases or other medical problems that may impact the patient’s health.
The team is made up of nurses focused on educating the patient on the pre- and post-procedure stages, as well as conducting follow up consultations to see how a patient is doing, he said.
Looking ahead
Natale said he is excited to see future technology advancements to treat arrhythmias. The TCAI research team is working on testing the second generation of PFA systems, he said, which could give more people access to treatment and allow less-experienced professionals to operate with lower-risk.
He said advanced PFA technology could also age out the dual-energy ablation catheter, used for areas with thicker tissue. TCAI was also the first to use the dual-energy ablation catheter.
