Mater Private Network is the First Hospital in Ireland and the UK to Utilise FARAPULSE™ PFA System to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

Mater Private Network, in partnership with Boston Scientific, has announced today that it is the first hospital network in Ireland and within only 25 centres in the world to introduce FARAPULSE technology for patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.  

Traditionally, catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation has relied on thermal energy, such as radiofrequency or cryoablation, which ablates all tissue types indiscriminately with potential risk to impact adjacent structures such as the oesophagus or phrenic nerve.

The new pulsed field ablation technology within FARAPULSE PFA uses a non-thermal energy source that allows the process to be much more targeted, treating durable cardiac lesions in seconds while sparing surrounding tissue from damage. This is incredibly useful for the pulmonary vein isolation that is necessary to treat Atrial Fibrillation and the system is the one of the most promising energy sources for cardiac ablation. 

The FARAPULSE PFA system received CE mark approval in January 2021 and patients across Europe are beginning to be treated with the new technology. At Mater Private Network, the implementation of the system will be led by Prof Gábor Széplaki. Speaking about the new technology, Prof Gábor Széplaki said, “The introduction of this technology in Ireland by Mater Private Network represents a monumental step forward in terms of patient care and minimising risk for patients who require catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. I began treating the first cases in the country last week and if the success the technology has had in other countries is anything to go by, I’m confident we will make a real difference to patients at Mater Private Network.”