There are several types of arrhythmias. Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is one of them, known in Thai as “heart flutter.” It is common among adults and becomes more frequent with age. It can occur as a standalone condition or in conjunction with other heart diseases such as valvular heart disease or cardiomyopathy, and with other systemic conditions like hyperthyroidism or sleep apnea. It is caused by abnormal electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart, leading to ineffective contractions and the formation of blood clots in the left atrium. This condition is significant as it increases the risk of clots traveling to block the brain’s blood vessels, causing strokes, heart failure, or sometimes presenting silently with symptoms like palpitations, easy fatigue, or paralysis. Currently, PFA (Pulsed Field Ablation) is a new treatment option for managing AF, targeting the condition directly, reducing complications, and offering satisfactory outcomes.
What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
One of the most common and significant heart arrhythmias found in adults is Atrial Fibrillation (AF) or heart flutter. Patients may or may not have symptoms. AF is a type of arrhythmia caused by abnormal electrical signals in the heart, making the atria beat too fast, leading to inefficient heart function. Symptoms may include palpitations, easy fatigue, or none at all, but it can lead to severe risks like heart failure or stroke, increasing the risk of CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident) and heart failure. It is often found in the elderly and working-age population, with risk increasing with age. Patients may present with palpitations, fatigue, chest tightness, or complications like stroke.
Who’s at risk for Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
- Elderly
- Working-age adults
- Patients with cardiovascular disease
- Patients with high blood pressure
- Patients with obesity or diabetes
- Those with sleep apnea
- Smokers or those who consume alcohol
What is PFA?
Treatment of AF can be approached in several ways. A new and popular technology is Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA), which uses high-frequency electrical waves through a catheter to target and destroy heart tissue responsible for arrhythmia without affecting nearby tissues like nerves or coronary arteries.
https://news.bostonscientific.com/cardiac-ablation-for-afib
What is the treatment pathway for PFA?
PFA does not require open chest surgery. A small catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in the groin to the heart. Special electrical pulses are directed to the source of abnormal signals to eliminate the arrhythmia-causing cells. The treatment takes about 2 – 3 hours.
This condition is diagnosed through an Electrocardiogram (ECG) to reduce the chance of paralysis. Treatment options include considering anticoagulants, rate control, and rhythm control using medication or ablation. Ablation is considered for patients with persistent symptoms despite rate control or with newly diagnosed AF, with a not significantly enlarged left atrium or in cases of heart failure.
Who is suitable for PFA?
- Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
- Patients for whom medication is ineffective or who do not wish to continue long-term medication
- Patients with heart failure
How is cardiac ablation performed?
Ablation can be performed in several ways including:
- 3D Radiofrequency Ablation
- Cryoballoon Ablation
- High-voltage Pulsefield Ablation (PFA) is a technique using high voltage electricity, without heat or cold, selectively destroying only the heart muscle cells and sparing surrounding tissues like the esophagus or nerves. This method offers clinically satisfactory outcomes, shorter procedure times, faster recovery, and reduced complication risks.
What are the steps involved in PFA?
The high-voltage Pulsefield Ablation (PFA) procedure involves inserting equipment through a vein in the groin to the right atrium and through to the left atrium. The catheter is designed with a 5-arm Basket structure, capable of transforming into a Flower shape to efficiently access and ablate the targeted pulmonary vein and surrounding areas.
Advantages of PFA
- No impact on nearby nerves or blood vessels, reducing the risk of injury as it does not use heat or cold
- Minimized effect on normal tissue as it targets specific areas for ablation
- Reduced complications as it targets only the problem area without affecting surrounding tissues
- Quicker recovery as PFA is faster compared to traditional methods using heat or cold
- Shorter recovery time, allowing patients to return to daily activities sooner
Recent research from the Heart Rhythm 2025 conference indicated that over 78% of patients had no recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) within 12 months following PFA treatment
Detect arrhythmias early, treat promptly, recover quickly with modern technology
for an improved quality of life with every heartbeat”
Why choose to treat Atrial Fibrillation (AF) at Bangkok Heart Hospital?
- The first specialized heart disease private hospital in Thailand, recognized as “one of the best heart disease treatment and surgical hospitals in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025” by Newsweek and Statista
- Expert team specializing in diagnosing and treating Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
- Combining diagnostic, treatment technologies, operating rooms, and modern Electrophysiology Lab (EP Lab)
- Follow-up and treatment planning in collaboration with patients through Tailored Heart Treatment
- Internationally recognized service standards and treatment outcomes
Expert hospitals in treating Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Bangkok Heart Hospital has a specialized cardiovascular team skilled in all aspects of AF treatment, with expertise and experience combined with advanced medical technology, addressing heart problems in every generation with care, aiming to restore quality of life.
Tailored Heart Treatment = care specifically for you
not treating everyone the same but tailoring it to “your heart””
Expert doctors in treating Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Dr. Sharmila Sehli, Cardiologist at Bangkok Heart Hospital
Click here to make an appointment.
