Madurai Hospital Pioneers New Heart Procedure: Pulsed Field Ablation for Irregular Heartbeat
Velammal Hospital in Madurai has introduced a new treatment for atrial fibrillation, a common form of irregular heartbeat, using a technique called Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA). The hospital announced the successful performance of the procedure, marking the first such treatment in south Tamil Nadu.
Dr. P. Shunmuga Sundaram, Director of Cardiology and Cath Labs at Velammal Hospital, explained that atrial fibrillation causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat irregularly and often too fast, disrupting normal blood flow. If left untreated, the condition significantly increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiac complications. Symptoms can include palpitations, fatigue, breathlessness, and dizziness, though some patients may experience no symptoms at all.
Pulsed Field Ablation represents a shift from older ablation methods. Traditional catheter ablation uses heat (radiofrequency) or extreme cold (cryoablation) to destroy heart tissue responsible for the irregular rhythm. In contrast, PFA uses electrical pulses delivered through a thin catheter to precisely target only the cells causing the arrhythmia, while largely sparing surrounding healthy tissue. This tissue-specific approach offers greater precision, fewer side effects, and faster recovery.
The technology was first used clinically in the United States and Europe and has been available at leading cardiac centers abroad for several years. Indian hospitals have begun adopting it only in the past month. Velammal Hospital's cardiology department has performed over 62,000 cardiac procedures between 2014 and 2025, including angiograms, angioplasties, pacemaker implants, and other ablation techniques.
The introduction of PFA at Velammal Hospital provides patients in the region access to an advanced treatment option for atrial fibrillation, potentially reducing risks and improving outcomes.
