Pulsed Field Ablation for Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Atrial Fibrillation

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation using thermal energies such as radiofrequency or cryothermy is associated with indiscriminate tissue destruction. During pulsed field ablation (PFA), subsecond electric fields create microscopic pores in cell membranes-a process called electroporation. Among cell types, cardiomyocytes have among the lowest thresholds to these fields, potentially permitting preferential myocardial ablation.

The purpose of these 2 trials was to determine whether PFA allows durable pulmonary vein (PV) isolation without damage to collateral structures.