Mayo Clinic offering new treatment for atrial fibrillation

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Atrial fibrillation is being diagnosed at an alarming rate, but a therapy long used in Europe is now available in the United States. The Mayo Clinic is among the first to offer this treatment, which aims to improve the lives of patients with Afib.

Mayo Clinic cardiologist Dr. Chris DeSimone explains that, aside from medications, the traditional way to treat Afib has been a procedure called ablation. This involves using a catheter to deliver short bursts of cold or hot energy into the heart’s pulmonary veins to improve the heart’s rhythm.

Now, with the FDA’s approval of pulsed field ablation, Dr. DeSimone says this new method is similar but uses far less heat. "We’re able to generate very brief small pulses of high electric fields," he explains. "So it’s almost like you are electrocuting the cells to pop open. You are not using the thermal heat or freezing that’s traditionally used."

Dr. DeSimone also notes that the procedure is more selective, reducing the risk of damaging tissue outside the heart, such as the esophagus. "That’s very important – you still get the effect of damaging the tissue you want to damage," he says.

Len Klun's story

Whether he’s playing music with his wife in their Maple Plaine living room or participating and winning triathlons, Len Klun rarely sits still.

"There’s a lot of subtle signs I probably ignored," says Klun.

A few months ago, Klun realized his six-day-a-week workout routine was more challenging than usual. A stress test revealed he had atrial fibrillation, Afib for short, a heart condition involving irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm, which can lead to blood clots in the heart and increase a patient's risk of stroke. Before any of those concerns, Klun just noticed he was tired way too often.

"My heart rate was spiking when I was running, and I just figured my watch was messed up, or I was going by powerlines or something," says Klun. "One time, which really was the last straw, I mowed the lawn, and I had Afib that night. I was like, man, this really is not right."

Globally, Klun is far from alone. According to the Mayo Clinic, by 2030, more than 12 million people will be diagnosed with Afib within the U.S., more than double from 2010.

"That’s just the number we’ve got diagnosed, approximations at best," says Mayo Clinic Cardiologist Dr. Chris DeSimone.

Treating Afib

Dr. DeSimone points out that for decades, the traditional way to treat Afib other than medications is a procedure called an ablation, using a catheter going into the pulmonary vein of the heart and directing short bursts of cold or hot energy to improve the heart's rhythm. Now, after the FDA approval in the U.S. this spring, Mayo Clinic is among the first performing this pulsed field ablation, which is a similar concept using less heat, shorter time under anesthesia, and less chance of damaging tissue beyond the heart, such as the nearby esophagus.

"We’re able to generate very brief small pulses of high electric fields, so it’s almost likely you are electrocuting the fields to pop open," says Dr. DeSimone. "So you are not using the thermal heat or freezing that’s tragically used as before, and what’s better is, we believe it’s more selective for the tissue cells than to the surrounding areas. So that’s very important you get the effect of damaging the tissue you want to damage."

"He said it’s much safer than the old way, that’s all you need to say for me," says DeAnn Klun, Len’s wife.

Now three months later, Klun almost feels back to his usual self. He's not signing up for organized races yet, but when it comes to racing his grandchildren, Klun is still the one to beat.

"When my grandson can finally beat me around the house, it will be a happy and sad day at the same time," says Klun. "I’m on the way back. I’m not running as fast or as long as two or three years ago, but I’m running better and faster than I was four to five months ago. I feel like I can do whatever I want if I put my heart to it."