Description
William H. Sauer, MD, FHRS, CCDS, is joined by guests Nathaniel Steiger, MD, and Paul C. Zei, MD, PhD, FHRS, for a discussion on the PULSED AF Pivotal Trial. This was a prospective, global, multicenter, nonrandomized, paired single-arm study in which patients with paroxysmal (n=150) or persistent (n=150) symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs were treated with pulsed field ablation. The results demonstrate similar efficacy compared with clinical studies evaluating radiofrequency ablation and cryothermal ablation. Safety with the new form of ablation technology appeared to be promising with no evidence of esophageal injury or phrenic nerve palsy observed.
Learning Objectives
- To recognize irreversible electroporation as a novel, nonthermal method for cardiac ablation.
- To understand the methods and results of the PULSED-AF trial.
- To distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of pulsed field ablation over traditional radiofrequency or cryoablation technologies for pulmonary vein isolation.
Article Authors and Podcast Contributors
Article Authors
Atul Verma, David E. Haines, Lucas V. Boersma, Nitesh Sood, Andrea Natale, Francis E. Marchlinski, Hugh Calkins, Prashanthan Sanders, Douglas L. Packer, Karl-Heinz Kuck, Gerhard Hindricks, Birce Onal, Jeffrey Cerkvenik, Hiroshi Tada, David B. DeLurgio on behalf of the PULSED AF Investigators
Podcast Contributors
William H. Sauer, MD, FHRS, CCDS, of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Nathaniel Steiger, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Paul C. Zei, MD, PhD, FHRS, of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Disclosures
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.Host Disclosure(s):
W. Sauer: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Biotronik, Biosense Webster, Inc., Abbott, Boston Scientific; Research (Contracted Grants for PIs Named Investigators Only): Medtronic
Contributor Disclosure(s):
N. Steiger: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
P. Zei: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Varian Medical Systems, Biosense Webster, Inc., Abbott; Research (Contracted Grants for PIs Named Investigators Only): Biosense Webster, Inc.; Stocks (Publicly Traded): Affera, Inc.
Staff Disclosure(s) (note: HRS staff are NOT in control of educational content. Disclosures are provided solely for full transparency to the learner):
J. Glenn: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
S. Sailor: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.