Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias
BackgroundPulsed electric field ablation (PFA) techniques for treating cardiac arrhythmias have attracted considerable interest. For example, atrial fibrillation can be effectively treated by pulmonary vein isolation using PFA. However, some arrhythmias originate deep within the myocardium, making t...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1632680/full |
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| author | Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Yunhao Li Ming Liang Ming Liang Jingyang Sun Jie Zhang Lisheng Xu Yaling Han Yaling Han |
| author_facet | Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Yunhao Li Ming Liang Ming Liang Jingyang Sun Jie Zhang Lisheng Xu Yaling Han Yaling Han |
| author_sort | Zhen Wang |
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| description | BackgroundPulsed electric field ablation (PFA) techniques for treating cardiac arrhythmias have attracted considerable interest. For example, atrial fibrillation can be effectively treated by pulmonary vein isolation using PFA. However, some arrhythmias originate deep within the myocardium, making them difficult to reach with conventional ablation methods. Therefore, this study aimed to explore endovascular catheter-based ablation using computational modeling to assess the electric field and temperature distributions during the procedure.MethodsA three-dimensional computer model of the ablation catheter and heart was developed. The catheter was positioned within the heart model to simulate endovascular ablation, and the ablation damage range was estimated using the 1000 V/cm contour. Additionally, a probe function was used to monitor the maximum electric field and temperature within the ablation zone to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this approach.ResultsThe electric field can penetrate blood vessels and fat to induce effective myocardial injury. The extent of myocardial damage increases with higher pulse voltages; however, excessive voltage may also damage blood vessels (vascular damage threshold: 3500 V/cm). An appropriate electrode configuration can achieve a more uniform myocardial injury across different cross-sections. Temperature rise near the catheter electrode is significant, but appropriate pulse interval settings can prevent thermal damage in the target area (simulated maximum temperature: 46.8 °C; thermal damage threshold for biological tissue: 55 °C).ConclusionIntravascular pulsed electric field ablation can effectively damage the myocardium without harming blood vessels when suitable pulse parameters are applied. The ablation device settings strongly influence the maximum temperature in the ablation zone and help limit thermal effects. These findings support the feasibility of using small endovascular catheters to treat cardiac arrhythmias. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc52885ef79f45e188bee2bac05a5f3b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc52885ef79f45e188bee2bac05a5f3b2025-08-22T14:55:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-08-011610.3389/fphys.2025.16326801632680Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmiasZhen Wang0Zhen Wang1Yunhao Li2Ming Liang3Ming Liang4Jingyang Sun5Jie Zhang6Lisheng Xu7Yaling Han8Yaling Han9Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaCollege of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaCollege of Information Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, ChinaBackgroundPulsed electric field ablation (PFA) techniques for treating cardiac arrhythmias have attracted considerable interest. For example, atrial fibrillation can be effectively treated by pulmonary vein isolation using PFA. However, some arrhythmias originate deep within the myocardium, making them difficult to reach with conventional ablation methods. Therefore, this study aimed to explore endovascular catheter-based ablation using computational modeling to assess the electric field and temperature distributions during the procedure.MethodsA three-dimensional computer model of the ablation catheter and heart was developed. The catheter was positioned within the heart model to simulate endovascular ablation, and the ablation damage range was estimated using the 1000 V/cm contour. Additionally, a probe function was used to monitor the maximum electric field and temperature within the ablation zone to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this approach.ResultsThe electric field can penetrate blood vessels and fat to induce effective myocardial injury. The extent of myocardial damage increases with higher pulse voltages; however, excessive voltage may also damage blood vessels (vascular damage threshold: 3500 V/cm). An appropriate electrode configuration can achieve a more uniform myocardial injury across different cross-sections. Temperature rise near the catheter electrode is significant, but appropriate pulse interval settings can prevent thermal damage in the target area (simulated maximum temperature: 46.8 °C; thermal damage threshold for biological tissue: 55 °C).ConclusionIntravascular pulsed electric field ablation can effectively damage the myocardium without harming blood vessels when suitable pulse parameters are applied. The ablation device settings strongly influence the maximum temperature in the ablation zone and help limit thermal effects. These findings support the feasibility of using small endovascular catheters to treat cardiac arrhythmias.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1632680/fullpulsed electric field ablation techniquearrhythmiaendovascular ablationcomputer simulationelectric field predictiontemperature assessment |
| spellingShingle | Zhen Wang Zhen Wang Yunhao Li Ming Liang Ming Liang Jingyang Sun Jie Zhang Lisheng Xu Yaling Han Yaling Han Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias Frontiers in Physiology pulsed electric field ablation technique arrhythmia endovascular ablation computer simulation electric field prediction temperature assessment |
| title | Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias |
| title_full | Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias |
| title_short | Feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias |
| title_sort | feasibility study of intravascular pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias |
| topic | pulsed electric field ablation technique arrhythmia endovascular ablation computer simulation electric field prediction temperature assessment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1632680/full |
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