Morristown Medical Center treats its first atrial fibrillation patient with Pulsed Field Ablation

MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center announced the treatment of its first patient using the new Medtronic PulseSelect™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System – a breakthrough technology that uses pulsed electric fields to treat patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Among the early adopters in the U.S., the procedure was performed by Jonathan S. Sussman, MD and his team. Atrial fibrillation is a progressive condition that affects more than 59 million people worldwide, and according to the American Heart Association, more than 12 million Americans are expected to develop AFib by the end of the decade.

Without early intervention, AFib can progress, becoming more sustained over time and is associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular admissions, heart failure, and mortality along with a reduced quality of life.

“AFib is one of the most common abnormal heart rhythms that can have life-threatening consequences if left untreated. Our patients research and actively seek out the latest advancements when it comes to treating AFib,” said Jonathan Sussman, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist at Morristown Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System. “We are thrilled to bring this breakthrough technology as an innovative solution for our patients.”

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the PulseSelect PFA system delivers pulsed electric fields through an ablation catheter designed specifically to interrupt irregular electrical pathways in the heart that trigger AFib.

Current ablation technologies rely on thermal effects to target cardiac tissue and risk damage to additional collateral structures in the heart. PFA is a breakthrough ablation technology that uses pulsed electric fields to efficiently isolate the pulmonary veins. This approach can result in lowering the risk of collateral tissue damage during treatment.