Cardiac electrophysiologists at CHI St. Alexius Health diagnose rhythm disturbances in the heart and determine the best treatment options. Physicians perform an array of testing including invasive and non-invasive procedures to provide patients with the latest in cardiac care.
Left Atrial Appendage Occluder 
The Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluder is a minimally invasive therapy to treat people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) who are at risk of ischemic stroke. The innovative treatment option completely and immediately seals the LAA, eliminating the need for blood-thinning medication following the procedure.
AFib occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat out of coordination with the lower chambers (ventricles) and contract rapidly and irregularly. In some people with AFib, the LAA - a small, naturally occurring pocket connected to the upper left chamber of the heart - can allow blood to pool and increase the likelihood of a clot formation, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. For patients with AFib who are unable to take blood thinners long-term, physicians may perform procedures to prevent blood clots from leaving the LAA to reduce the risk of stroke.
PFA: A New Hope for Atrial Fibrillation
PFA (Pulsed Field Ablation) is a new non-thermal modality for treating atrial fibrillation (AF) using single shot ablation catheter that works on the principle of irreversible electroporation (IRE). It’s been proven safer, quicker and more effective than thermal ablation.
How it works
PFA isolates and targets myocardial tissue for non-thermal ablation.
- A catheter is guided to the targeted area of the heart.
- Ultra-rapid electrical pulses above a tissue cell’s specific electrical threshold are applied, resulting in cell death.
- Other cell types are more resistant and remain uninjured despite exposure. Avoiding damage to non-cardiac adjacent tissue such as esophagus, pulmonary vein and phrenic nerve.
Why choose PFA
Providing significantly shorter procedure times - PFA is also safer and more effective with fewer complications and no incidence of esophageal fistula, pulmonary vein stenosis or persistent phrenic nerve injury that may come with radiofrequency or thermal ablation.
PFA provides an enhanced quality of life with greater atrial arrhythmia suppression and lesser AF related healthcare utilization.
With FDA approval in 2024, PFA has been used to treat over 70,000 patients worldwide as of September 2024.
Accepting New Patients and Referrals
We are now accepting new patients and welcome referrals. If your patient is struggling with atrial fibrillation, please call (701) 530-7502.