Mercy 1st in Iowa to use Abbott Volt™ technology for AFib treatment

Mercy Medical Center’s Plumb Heart Center has become the first in Iowa to use Abbott’s Volt™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System, a newly FDA-approved technology used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Electrophysiologist Dr. Mark Milton and the Plumb Heart Center team recently performed the procedures. While pulsed-field ablation is not new to Iowa, Mercy is the first in the state to use this specific technology, which offers physicians and patients another advanced option for treating AFib (the most common type of heart rhythm disorder).

Unlike traditional thermal ablation procedures that use heat or extreme cold to treat irregular heart rhythms, pulsed-field ablation uses targeted electrical pulses. This approach is designed to treat affected heart tissue while helping reduce the risk of injury to nearby structures.

The Volt system’s design also conforms to each patient’s anatomy and reduces overall procedure time compared to traditional ablation.

“Pulsed-field ablation is an important advancement in the treatment of AFib, and the Abbott Volt system gives us another highly advanced tool for caring for patients,” Dr. Milton said. “This technology is designed to treat affected heart tissue while helping reduce risk to nearby structures, and it may allow for shorter procedure times. Our electrophysiology team has completed specialized training to bring this option to patients here in Iowa.”

AFib affects millions of Americans and can lead to serious complications, including stroke and heart failure, if left untreated.

To learn more, visit www.mercycare.org/afib.