From three hours to 30 minutes: New heart procedure in UAE cuts stroke risk by 25%

A new procedure now being used in the UAE is dramatically cutting the time taken for surgery in heart patients and reducing complications as well as recovering times. The technique called pulse field ablation (PFA) is ushering in what an expert describes as “a new era” in cardiac care.

According to Dr Mohamed Magdy Abbas, Consultant and Head of EP unit at Al Qassimi Hospital, the breakthrough heart procedure is used to treat atrial fibrillation — the most common heart rhythm disorder worldwide. Traditionally, this has required a lengthy procedure that could take up to three hours and is usually done under general anesthesia. However, the new technique can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.

He was speaking to Khaleej Times at the Emirates Health Services stand at the World Health Expo (WHX) which began in Dubai on Monday and said that this technology could help prevent serious complications. Treating atrial fibrillation reduces the risk of stroke and heart failure, two major long-term dangers.

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“This procedure will lower the incidence of heart failure which leads to lesser number of brain strokes,” he said. “By this treatment, we can lower the number of stroke patients by 25 per cent.”

Faster, safer treatment

Dr Abbas explained that earlier treatments relied on burning or freezing tissue to isolate abnormal electrical signals in the heart. While effective, these approaches could take hours. “We are living in a new era,” he said. “This is more tissue specific, heart specific, more safe, less complication, much quicker procedure.”

The catheter technology called the Volt system also allows doctors to see real-time contact with heart tissue and operate without putting patients under general anesthesia. “The catheter doesn’t require general anesthesia,” Dr Abbas said. “The patient can do the procedure under conscious sedation.”

Complication rates have also dropped significantly, coming down from seven per cent to just two per cent.  

Earlier recovery, better outcomes

One of the biggest benefits patients notice is how quickly they recover. “The early recovery is the most important thing,” Dr Abbas said, pointing to faster mobilisation and shorter hospital stays. Studies are even exploring same-day discharge, meaning patients could undergo treatment in the morning and return home at night.

Doctors closely monitor recovery using a small injectable chip placed under the skin that tracks heart rhythm before and after the procedure. According to Dr Abbas, early results are highly promising. “The results are quite amazing regarding recurrence- much less than radio frequency and cryo ablation,” he said.

He believes the innovation will continue to evolve rapidly. “It improves quality of life, avoids disability, and prevents heart failure,” he said. “Hopefully we can help more patients.”