High-Repetition-Frequency Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: 12-Month Outcomes From the SCENA-AF Trial
Introduction to Atrial Fibrillation and Traditional Ablation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia worldwide, associated with significant morbidity, including stroke, heart failure, and reduced quality of life. For patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) who do not respond to antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation has become the standard of care. Historically, this has involved thermal energy sources—specifically radiofrequency (RF) ablation, which uses heat, and cryoballoon ablation, which uses extreme cold. While effective, thermal energies carry inherent risks because they are not tissue-specific. They can inadvertently damage surrounding structures such as the esophagus, causing life-threatening fistulas, or the phrenic nerve, leading to diaphragm paralysis.
The Emergence of Pulsed Field Ablation
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This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.