South Korean medical adoption of Pulsed Field Ablation

South Korean medical institutions are achieving significant milestones in the use of Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation. This modern technique utilizes short, high-voltage electrical pulses to target heart muscle cells, offering a method to reduce thermal damage to surrounding tissues compared to traditional radiofrequency or cooling-based ablation.

Gachon University Gil Medical Center reported surpassing 50 cumulative PFA procedures following the method’s inclusion in health insurance coverage in May. The center utilizes three available systems in South Korea—Medtronic’s ‘PulseSelect’, Boston Scientific’s ‘FARAPULSE’, and Johnson & Johnson’s ‘VARIPULSE’—and employs a ‘zero-fluoroscopy’ strategy to minimize radiation exposure.

Other institutions have also reached notable volumes. Dankook University Hospital recorded its first 100 PFA procedures, marking a milestone for the Chungcheong region. Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital reached 500 PFA procedures, becoming the first institution outside the capital region to achieve this volume and serving as a training center for radiation-free PFA.

Expanding on regional milestones, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital has completed 100 cases of 3D imaging-guided PFA. Professors Kim Tae-seok and Kim Min-su noted that the integration of 3D imaging allows for real-time monitoring of cardiac anatomy and catheter positioning. They stated this milestone demonstrates the hospital’s capability to provide advanced arrhythmia treatments locally, reducing the need for patients in the region to travel to the Seoul metropolitan area.