MORGANTOWN — Vandalia Health Mon Medical Center is among the first hospitals in the United States to perform procedures using Abbott’s Volt pulsed field ablation system, and among only a handful nationwide to combine the technology with integrated intracardiac echocardiography guidance — an approach that enhances precision and reduces reliance on X-ray imaging when treating atrial fibrillation.
The first procedures were performed by electrophysiologists Matthew Gaskill, DO, and Salam Sbaity, MD.
Pulsed field ablation works by delivering highly targeted electrical pulses to the areas of the heart causing abnormal rhythms. Unlike traditional thermal ablation, which uses heat or cold, the approach is designed to minimize damage to surrounding tissue and improve safety, particularly for patients with more complex anatomy.
“Atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmias can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life and increase the risk of serious complications such as stroke,” Sbaity said. “Pulsed field ablation is an important advancement in how we treat these conditions, and the Volt system builds on that progress with a streamlined approach that allows us to diagnose, map and treat using a single catheter. By incorporating integrated intracardiac echocardiography, or ICE, we’re also able to see the heart in real time during the procedure, which enhances precision and helps reduce the need for radiation.”
The Volt system features an all-in-one catheter that lets physicians map the heart, identify abnormal electrical pathways and deliver treatment in the same procedure. Mon Medical Center is among only a small number of hospitals nationwide combining Volt PFA technology with integrated ICE guidance, allowing physicians to visualize the heart in real time while further reducing X-ray use. The system can be used with either conscious sedation or general anesthesia, expanding access to patients who may not otherwise be candidates for ablation.
The Volt system joins an existing suite of cardiac technologies at Mon Medical Center, including the FARAPULSE pulsed field ablation platform with the FARAPOINT catheter for targeted ablation, and the WATCHMAN device used to reduce stroke risk in AFib patients.
“The addition of the Volt PFA system further strengthens our ability to tailor treatment to each patient,” Gaskill said. “Some patients benefit from a streamlined approach using a single catheter, while others may need a more targeted strategy using multiple tools. Being able to choose the right technology for the right situation helps us deliver safer, more effective and truly personalized care.”
Approximately 12 million people in the United States are expected to be affected by AFib by 2030, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition increases stroke risk by up to five times and has been a primary or contributing cause of death for more than two decades.
Mon Medical Center has earned national recognition from the American College of Cardiology, including the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence, as well as accreditations in chest pain and electrophysiology care. More information is available at MonHealth.com.
