ACC 23: Pulsed Field Ablation in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Patients: The PULSED AF Trial

Principal Investigator, Dr Atul Verma (McGill University Health Centre, CA) joins us on-site at ACC's 2023 Scientific Sessions to outline the findings of the PULSED-AF Trial (Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure). In this prospective, multicenter study, 421 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) were treated with the Medtronic PulseSelect Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System to study the safety and effectiveness of this device.
Questions:
1. What is the background of this trial?
2. What are benefits of this novel technology?
3. Can you tell us about the study design, eligibility criteria and outcome measures?
4. What are the findings presented at ACC?
5. What are the potential implications of this data on practice and further research?
6. What are the next steps?
For more content from ACC.23/WCC and the Late-breaker Discussion series head to Late-Breaking Science Video Collection.
Recorded on-site at ACC 2023, New Orleans.
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[@lifeandtext]

Exciting indeed; thanks for this interview.

[@neilmurphy7554]

Had PFA procedure 4 weeks ago and feel great.... my previous active self has thankfully returned and I can move on after being in AF for a year. Following my Moderna Covid booster vaccine I ended up in the Emergency Room due an extreme AF event.

[@ricardocastro1454]

That's great! The same happened to me (Vaccine). Where did you get your PFA? I am in US and can't get it scheduled. Thanks much!

[@neilmurphy7554]

Hey Ricardo...... here in Australia we have universal health care so the PFA procedure incurred zero cost to me and was performed at Royal Melbourne Hospital. I was the first person at the hospital to receive the new treatment. I hope you can get this procedure asap for your AF. In my opinion it would be well worth paying for so good luck to you. It is interesting that your AF was triggered by the Covid vaccine. Whilst no medical professional has indicated the vaccine as the cause, none has ruled it out specifically so the profession is apparently neutral on this issue.@@ricardocastro1454

[@peterdj3465]

You can get it in europe or singapore

[@positivelastaction3957]

@@ricardocastro1454 inquire about clinical trials in the US.

[@lrc87290]

@@ricardocastro1454 Rolling out now in the US

[@carolpatrick8611]

Great video update Thank you very exciting!!!!!

[@markmeskel4378]

Why were there any failures?

[@mw354]

I thought Dr David Haines pioneered this?

[@positivelastaction3957]

PFA outcomes have been underwhelming so far. Effectiveness and success rates have been lower than originally anticipated, when compared to RF or Cryo. But he is right, this is just the first gen PFA, so it will be interesting to follow developments in this technique. I am interested in optogenics technology as a next-level therapy, which would address this disorder in a completely new way using light to express ion channels and restore NSR instantly.

[@lrc87290]

I think this Medronics Pulse Field Catheter is not the best. Medronics Affera is probably going to be more effective. Not FDA approved as of this date. Boston Scientific Fara Pulse approved early 2024 has been used in Europe for over a year- 40,000 procedures- They are Gaining experience and getting faster. Word is the EPs are bragging 20 minutes skin to skin.

[@positivelastaction3957]

@@lrc87290 That's all very encouraging news! Thanks for sharing.

[@Tommyfrogcocks15]

👍🤞

[@paddymccune8512]

Where can i get this done at ??? By the time it is approved by the FDA. Who knows. it may be years.

[@nasasaalsasasa2791]

much shorter

[@lrc87290]

Approved around the world but not in the US. Waiting for it hopefully I don't go into persistent or permanent AFib while waiting. The Boston Scientific study ends in June 2023. All the procedures are done. June completes the one year follow up. My hospital Penn Medicine was part of the trial. they are saying by the end of the year.

[@Tommyfrogcocks15]

I had 3 ablations at penn. Unfortunately I keep going back to AFib and I’m in it constantly now

[@lrc87290]

@@Tommyfrogcocks15 that sucks. They said they have some of the highest success rates in the country. Hmmmm

[@Tommyfrogcocks15]

@@lrc87290 I heard they were great too and don’t believe they aren’t great bc of-my situation. I supposedly have a rarer issue compared to most. My dr (Spanish name) can’t remember seemed very respected by all and I know he did his best. Garcia was his last name. Very good dr. Give them a shot. Most are very happy. I’m unusual I’ve been told.

[@markmeskel4378]

Can you have this procedure done more than one time? And is the cost similar to regular ablation?

[@tthams73]

Yes and yes

[@gillianmarr73]

It's about £15k in the UK about £3k more expensive than usual ablation. Only four hospitals doing it as yet. I'm just about to find out whether it can be funded by the NHS or private only.

[@Vacaiable]

@@gillianmarr73 I just had a pulsed field ablation in a very high volume Danish clinic. If you are coming from Britain it would cost you about £10.5k. The electro-physiologist who did it has done over 8000 ablations. This hospital started PFA last spring and had done over 500 by October. Anyway good luck if you are about to get an ablation.

[@noluck33]

It all sounds good but I cannot find doctors that will do it, I guess it is easier and makes them more money to simply prescribe the drugs!! Total BS!!!

[@michaelmcintyre6414]

I fit , how do I enter program? NiaFALLS.