Samsung Medical Center debuts Korea's first dual energy ablation for atrial fibrillation
In short
Samsung Medical Center said it carried out South Korea's first dual energy ablation (DEA) for atrial fibrillation, a procedure that uses one catheter to deliver either pulsed field ablation or radiofrequency ablation. The hospital said physicians can switch energy types during the procedure depending on the patient's condition and the treatment site, using pulsed field ablation near the esophagus or phrenic nerve and radiofrequency where heart walls are thick or deeper tissue must be reached. On Young-geun, director of the hospital's arrhythmia centre, said the combination allows more flexible, individualised treatment strategies.
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Samsung Medical Center said it has performed dual energy ablation (DEA) for atrial fibrillation in Korea for the first time, according to the three documents. The hospital announced the procedure on October 7, and said DEA allows both pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to be carried out with a single catheter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The hospital said the energy type can be chosen during the procedure according to the patient's condition and the site being treated. For heart walls close to the esophagus or the phrenic nerve, it said, PFA is used because the risk of damage to surrounding tissue is relatively low; where the heart wall is thick or energy must be delivered to deeper tissue, RFA is used. Hankook Ilbo reported that the energy can be switched without changing the catheter, allowing the medical team to respond flexibly during the procedure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The procedure was carried out by On Young-geun, director of the hospital's arrhythmia centre and a professor of cardiology. “The combination of existing RFA and PFA, which is regarded as a next-generation arrhythmia treatment, makes it possible to establish more flexible and individualised treatment strategies for patients,” On said, adding that the hospital would continue to pursue innovation in arrhythmia treatment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Hankook Ilbo reported that the procedure took place on October 6 at Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and provided background on the condition: atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia in which the atria, the upper chambers of the heart, do not contract regularly and quiver, producing an irregular pulse, palpitations, shortness of breath or fatigue. Blood that pools in the heart can form clots, which can lead to stroke if they block a cerebral blood vessel. Catheter ablation, it said, threads a thin tube through blood vessels to the heart and blocks the abnormal electrical signals that cause the arrhythmia, with RFA using radiofrequency current to generate heat and PFA using repeated very short electrical pulses to create tiny pores in heart muscle cell membranes. [ 3 ]
The documents do not say how many patients have been treated with the technique or give any results, and they say nothing about regulatory approval, insurance coverage or plans to expand its use. All three reports rest on the hospital's announcement about the procedure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The hospital presented the technique as a first for Korea, and the coverage treats it as an addition to the options available for a common rhythm disorder. All of the reporting rests on the hospital's own announcement, so the significance for patients in practice — how often it will be used and with what results — is not yet shown in the documents.
Key facts
- Samsung Medical Center said it performed dual energy ablation (DEA) for atrial fibrillation in Korea for the first time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- DEA uses a single catheter to perform both pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The hospital said the energy type can be chosen during the procedure according to the patient's condition and the treatment site. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- PFA is used for heart walls close to the esophagus or the phrenic nerve, where the risk of damaging surrounding tissue is lower. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- RFA is used where the heart wall is thick or energy must reach deeper tissue. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The procedure was carried out by On Young-geun, director of the hospital's arrhythmia centre and a professor of cardiology. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reported the procedure was performed on October 6 at Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Samsung Medical Center announced that DEA was performed in Korea for the first time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- DEA can perform both PFA and RFA with one catheter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Energy type can be selected during the procedure based on patient condition and treatment site. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- PFA is used near the esophagus and phrenic nerve; RFA where tissue is thick or deep. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- On Young-geun of Samsung Medical Center carried out the procedure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The number of patients treated with DEA and their outcomes. No document gives patient numbers or results; the coverage reports only that the hospital performed the procedure.
- Whether the technique has received regulatory approval or will be covered by insurance, and how widely it will be offered. The documents describe the procedure and the hospital's announcement but say nothing about approval, reimbursement or expansion plans.
- The exact date of the procedure. Only Hankook Ilbo gives a date (October 6); Asia Economy and Seoul Economic Daily report the announcement without stating when the procedure took place.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Samsung Medical Center performs the DEA procedure, according to Hankook Ilbo, which gives the date as October 6 (no time stated); the other documents do not give a procedure date. [ 3 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its report on the first DEA procedure in Korea. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily publishes its report on the same announcement. [ 2 ]
- Hankook Ilbo publishes its report, adding background on atrial fibrillation and catheter ablation. [ 3 ]