New treatment for AFib patients shows less tissue damage and improved outcomes, offered first in Central Florida at AdventHealth
AdventHealth
A new hope is on the horizon for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The AdventHealth Heart, Lung, and Vascular Institute in Central Florida is leading the charge with an innovative treatment that’s changing lives: Pulse Field Ablation (PFA).
A game-changer for AFib
AFib, the most common type of heart arrhythmia, leads to thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year. But thanks to PFA, patients like Kroy Crofoot are experiencing remarkable improvements.
“I have more energy now than before the PFA procedure over the summer and I was back at work the next day, but with lifting restrictions,” said Crofoot, a furniture store owner. Introduced last year, the PFA procedure targets only the problematic heart tissue with short bursts of electricity, reducing tissue damage and restoring a normal rhythm.
Fast fact
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AFib is responsible for more than 454,000 hospitalizations and roughly 158,000 deaths each year in the U.S. In addition, the CDC forecasts 12.1 million people in the United States will have AFib by 2030.
A safer approach
“PFA is a targeted treatment that’s a safer, more efficient approach than traditional methods like radiofrequency ablation that uses heat. Heat can inadvertently damage surrounding tissues,” said Dr. Naushad Shaik, electrophysiologist and EP medical director at the AdventHealth Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute. “Our patients are learning about this new treatment and asking for it - and it has improved outcomes.”
Crofoot thought he would get a clean bill of health when he went in for a check-up, instead he was told he had AFib. He’s grateful to Dr. Shaik and his team for helping him get back to work and being active quickly.
“The procedure was quick, and the recovery was fast,” said Kroy Crofoot who underwent the PFA procedure at AdventHealth Orlando in July. “I went in at 9 am, went home by 4 pm and was walking by the end of the day.”
He’s now back to playing pickleball and hopes to stop taking his blood thinner medication in the future. For more information on the new PFA procedure, call 407-931-5040.
