Abstract
Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation ablation. Radiofrequency ablation has been the most common source of energy used to achieve PVI until now. In recent years, cryoballoon ablation has gained popularity due to its ability to perform PVI in a 'single-shot' fashion. In both cases (radiofrequency and cryoablation), the main limitation is their inability to achieve durable lesions without causing collateral damage to adjacent structures. In contrast, pulsed electric field (PEF) ablation is a non-thermal energy source that causes cell apoptosis by applying an electric current to the tissue. Lesions created by a field of energy seem to be more contiguous than traditional ablation, and the risk of damage to adjacent tissues is largely avoided due to the properties of the tissues and electrical fields. In recent years, new catheters capable of delivering PEF have been developed and are now undergoing clinical testing. In this article, we describe a complete solution for PVI: a single multielectrode catheter with 3D mapping capabilities that can deliver PEF in a single-shot PVI fashion with targeting beyond the pulmonary veins.