Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) is an advanced, minimally invasive catheter procedure used to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib). Instead of using extreme heat or cold (thermal energy) like older methods, PFA uses short bursts of high-voltage electrical energy to target and destroy the specific heart tissue causing irregular rhythms. How PFA Works - Non-thermal energy: Uses a process called irreversible electroporation, creating microscopic pores in targeted cell membranes without heating or freezing. Tissue selectivity: Heart muscle cells are far more sensitive to the electrical field than other tissues, protecting surrounding structures. Catheter delivery: A thin tube is threaded through a vein in your groin up to the left atrium of the heart to isolate the pulmonary veins. Benefits Over Traditional Ablation - Higher safety margin: Dramatically lowers the risk of collateral damage to the esophagus, nearby nerves (like the phrenic nerve), and blood vessel narrowing. Faster procedures: Total delivery time for the electrical pulses takes less than a minute, cutting overall procedure and anesthesia time down to 1 to 3 hours. Quicker recovery: Most patients experience less post-procedural chest inflammation and can safely return home the same day. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/pulsed-field-ablation