Revolutionary Treatment for AFib Now Available at CHRISTUS, Thanks to Generosity of Patients

CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis Peaches Owen Heart Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the country to institute a new, revolutionary, FDA-approved treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), thanks to a significant gift from the Hall Family Foundation.

As a result of the donation, the heart hospital has acquired two Farapulse Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) generators, the latest advanced technology designed to treat atrial fibrillation, which is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. The gift was made after father and son were both patients at the heart hospital and wanted to give back.

“This heart hospital holds a very special place in our hearts, both literally and figuratively,” said the Hall Family Foundation’s Gerry Hall. “I have been a patient here, as has my son, and I know the incredible work that goes on here. It really is an amazing place.”

According to Boston Scientific, the maker of Farapulse, the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital is the second facility in Texas and one of the first 10 in the country to utilize the technology.

The first two heart hospital patient procedures using Farapulse PFA were completed on Monday, Feb. 19.

“We know that this is going to be a great addition for the heart hospital,” said Monte Hall. “Both my dad and I have AFib, so we know the importance of getting it checked out and getting it fixed. This new device is going to help so many people who are in the same position we are.”

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. It received FDA approval on Jan. 31.

“We know that this is an incredibly safe and very effective way to treat atrial fibrillation,” said Dr. Stan Weiner, medical director of electrophysiology at the heart hospital. “We are excited to gain access to the newest technologies to treat our patients and we cannot thank the Hall family enough for allowing us this opportunity.”

In March 2023, the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital performed the first procedure in Texas as a part of the Farapulse PFA clinical trial, which enrolled more than 400 patients at 53 sites across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Positive data from the trial ultimately led to FDA approval.

“By 2030, atrial fibrillation will impact more than 12 million Americans,” said Deb Chelette, CHRISTUS regional vice president of cardiovascular services. “We are so thankful to the Hall Family Foundation for their incredible gift as it allows our team to truly extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by bringing best practice atrial fibrillation care to East Texas. 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.”