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Pulsed Field Ablation : A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies Sullivan, Andrew P.; Aguilar, Martin; Laksman, Zachary

Abstract

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is an emerging technology that utilizes ultra-short high-voltage electric pulses to create nanopores in cell membranes, leading to cell death through irreversible electroporation (IRE). PFA is touted to be highly tissue-selective, which may mitigate the risk of collateral injury to vital adjacent structures. In the field of cardiac electrophysiology, initial studies have shown promising results for acute pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and lesion durability, with overall freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmia comparable to traditional thermal ablation modalities. While further large studies are required for long-term efficacy and safety data, PFA has the potential to become a preferred energy source for cardiac ablation for some indications. This review outlines the basic principles and biophysics of IRE and its application to cardiac electrophysiology through a review of the existing preclinical and clinical data.

Item Metadata

Title
Pulsed Field Ablation : A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Creator
Sullivan, Andrew P.; Aguilar, Martin; Laksman, Zachary
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Date Issued
2025-03-22
Description
Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is an emerging technology that utilizes ultra-short high-voltage electric pulses to create nanopores in cell membranes, leading to cell death through irreversible electroporation (IRE). PFA is touted to be highly tissue-selective, which may mitigate the risk of collateral injury to vital adjacent structures. In the field of cardiac electrophysiology, initial studies have shown promising results for acute pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and lesion durability, with overall freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmia comparable to traditional thermal ablation modalities. While further large studies are required for long-term efficacy and safety data, PFA has the potential to become a preferred energy source for cardiac ablation for some indications. This review outlines the basic principles and biophysics of IRE and its application to cardiac electrophysiology through a review of the existing preclinical and clinical data.
Subject
irreversible electroporation; pulsed field ablation; atrial fibrillation
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2025-05-07
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
CC BY 4.0
DOI
10.14288/1.0448772
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/91020
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Non UBC; Medicine, Department of
Citation
Bioengineering 12 (4): 329 (2025)
Publisher DOI
10.3390/bioengineering12040329
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty; Researcher
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Aggregated Source Repository
DSpace

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CC BY 4.0