Ascension Sacred Heart area hospitals provide new FDA-approved AFib treatment

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay and Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast now provide FDA-approved pulsed field ablation (PFA) treatment for patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Dr. Nghia Hoang and Dr. Saeed Khaja, cardiac electrophysiologists, will provide the procedure at Sacred Heart Bay. Dr. Adam Bainey, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Cardiology - Destin will conduct procedures at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.

Traditional thermal ablation has been practiced for many years and uses hot or cold energy to burn or freeze malfunctioning heart cells. The PFA technology is a new alternative for some patients who have an irregular heartbeat that can come and go, or happen in episodes. Instead of burning or freezing tissue, PFA shocks targeted cardiology tissues with a controlled electric field to specifically target the heart cells causing the irregular heartbeat while reducing the complications.

"Due to our hospitals expanding services to add this third AFib ablation option, we will be able to schedule patients in need of all types of ablations more quickly," said Margaret Pate, Regional Vice President, Cardiovascular Service Lines. "Your doctor will be able to guide you on the treatment options that are best for your specific condition."

AFib is an irregular heartbeat that puts patients at risk for more serious health issues such as heart failure and stroke. It is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia and will affect an estimated 12.1 million Americans by 2030, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also states the death rate from AFib as a primary or contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

For more information about the cardiology program at Sacred Heart Bay visit Ascension.org/BayHeart. For information on heart care at Sacred Heart Emerald Coast visit Ascension.org/DestinHeart.