Atrial fibrillation: is pulsed technology the new frontier?

“On the one hand,” explains Alessandro Giorgetti, General Manager of Abbott’s Electrophysiology Division in Italia, “there are still cultural barriers: many patients arrive too late or continue to regard ablation as a last-resort option. On the other hand, there are organisational issues linked to the capacity of centres, the availability of procedure suites and the growing pressure on electrophysiology departments. In a context where case volumes are increasing year on year, the issue of the efficiency of care pathways becomes crucial.”

It is precisely here that Pulsed Field Ablation can act as an enabler, and Abbott is present on the market with a number of innovations. “On the one hand, Volt PFA has been designed to support procedures dedicated to pulmonary vein isolation through a standardised and highly efficient workflow,” continues Giorgetti. “On the other hand, TactiFlex Duo represents a particularly interesting development because it offers clinicians the option of using both pulsed-field energy and radiofrequency via a single catheter, enabling them to tailor the treatment strategy to any patient, clinical need or anatomy.”

When we talk about innovation in healthcare, we often tend to focus on technology, but it is always people who make the real difference. This is particularly true in electrophysiology, where the evolution of platforms requires professionals capable of combining advanced technical skills with strong interpersonal skills. A background in science and bioengineering is, of course, essential, but work in the operating theatre takes place in high-pressure environments characterised by rapid decision-making and a highly multidisciplinary approach. “Our specialists,” emphasises Giorgetti, “must understand how complex systems work, interpret data in real time and support the use of highly sophisticated technologies. This is why I believe that soft skills have become just as important as technical skills. I am thinking, first and foremost, of the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, to listen to the team’s needs, to remain clear-headed and in control under pressure, and to adapt quickly to situations that may evolve during the procedure.”

And when it comes to the future of electrophysiology, the focus is no longer on a single innovation, but on the convergence of multiple technologies capable of making procedures increasingly personalised, predictive and integrated. “Artificial Intelligence, advanced imaging, high-density mapping systems and new ablation technologies are already beginning to interact with one another,” concludes Giorgetti. “The real leap forward will come when this information can be processed in an increasingly intelligent way to support clinical decision-making.”