New AFib treatment supports better recovery, long-term results for patients

HINSDALE, Ill. - A 59-year-old male patient is the first beneficiary of a new therapy option for AFib (atrial fibrillation) being provided by UChicago Medicine AdventHealth. AFib is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia.

On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Ahmad Abdul-Karim, MD, FHRS, a physician who specializes in clinical cardiac electrophysiology, used the Abbott Volt™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System to successfully treat the patient's AFib at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale.

The Volt PFA System was used extensively in clinical trials across the globe and earned FDA approval in the United States in December 2025 and CE Mark in Europe in March 2025.

Approximately 12 million people in the U.S. over the age of 65 have AFib, a number expected to double over the next 20 years.

People living with AFib face a fivefold increased risk of stroke, and AFib has been the primary or a contributing cause of death for more than two decades in the U.S.

When medication and other treatment options fail to work, many patients rely on cardiac ablation - a minimally invasive procedure to stop an irregular heart rhythm - to effectively treat the condition.

Abbott's Volt PFA System is an all-in-one product that is clinically proven to simplify the treatment of AFib that is gentler on the heart, has shorter procedure times and supports better recovery and long-term results. Benefits include:

• Minimal number of therapy applications and enhanced patient outcomes. The Volt PFA System is designed to deliver precise, targeted energy during ablation, which helps achieve durable lesions with fewer pulses. This level of accuracy supports effective first-time procedures, reducing the likelihood of repeat ablations and minimizing the risk of complications.
• More procedural options for patients. Patients who undergo a minimally invasive ablation procedure with the Volt PFA Catheter can be placed under conscious sedation instead of general anesthesia, which is a significant benefit for patients where anesthesia is a barrier to performing ablations. The Volt PFA System also reduces exposure to radiation (fluoroscopy) and limits the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis).

"A healthy heart is the central component of a healthy lifestyle. We are excited to have this new, effective ablation system, with the aim of helping our patients overcome hard-to-treat arrhythmias and get back to the daily activities they enjoy," Dr. Abdul-Karim said.

Learn more about cardiac care at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth.