CHRISTUS Highland First Facility in Louisiana to Perform New Atrial Fibrillation Procedure

CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center is the first hospital in Louisiana to perform a new atrial fibrillation procedure using the Boston Scientific Farapulse Pulsed Field Ablation system, a new FDA-approved treatment for atrial fibrillation.

Dr. S. Scott Wiggins and Dr. Srikar Veerareddy, electrophysiologists with Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists in Shreveport, performed the first pulse-field ablation for patients with atrial fibrillation on March 4, bringing the latest technology for atrial fibrillation treatment to our community.

“This is a very safe and effective way to treat atrial fibrillation and we are excited to have access to this technology for our patients,” Veerareddy said.

During a traditional ablation procedure, a catheter is guided to the interior of the heart and generates extreme temperatures – hot or cold – to destroy targeted areas in the heart associated with abnormal heart rhythms.

The Farapulse PFA System, however, relies on tissue selective, non-thermal electric fields to ablate heart tissue and avoid damage to surrounding structures.

“Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common heart arrhythmias we diagnose so having access to the latest technology for atrial fibrillation treatments is important to us so that we can ensure that our patients have the best access to care,” Wiggins said.

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that begins in the heart’s upper chambers (atria). Symptoms include fatigue, heart palpitations, trouble breathing and dizziness. Risk factors include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and obesity. Left untreated, atrial fibrillation can lead to a stroke.

“By 2030, atrial fibrillation will impact more than 12 million Americans,” said Deb Chelette, CHRISTUS regional vice president of cardiovascular services. “We look forward to expanding this technology to our other CHRISTUS ministries so that we can serve our patients in their community, close to home.”