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Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital has become the first UK medical facility to implement a groundbreaking treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), a prevalent heart rhythm disorder affecting approximately 1.4 million people across the country. Michael Robinson, a 67-year-old patient living with AF, recently underwent the innovative Volt Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) procedure, which is designed to halt irregular heartbeats when conventional medications fail. Diagnosed five years ago after a family tragedy, Michael hopes this new treatment will significantly enhance his daily functioning and quality of life.
Atrial fibrillation causes the heart to beat irregularly and often at a rapid pace, with heart rates exceeding the normal 60 to 100 beats per minute range. It is a progressive condition that raises the risk of stroke and heart failure. Sufferers may experience symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort, although some episodes can be asymptomatic and transient. Michael explained the debilitating nature of his condition: “On my worst day I feel very tired, my heart rate increases rapidly – I could walk for 2 or 3 miles and be okay, I could walk for 100 yards and it would hit me.”
The Volt PFA system offers several advantages compared to previous treatments, including the ability to treat up to three patients per day instead of just one, which helps alleviate waiting lists and optimizes hospital resources. Unlike traditional ablation procedures requiring general anesthesia, patients undergoing PFA are placed under conscious sedation, eliminating the need for an anaesthetist—a critical benefit given the global shortage of specialists. Moreover, the minimally invasive nature of the procedure allows for same-day admission and discharge, thus freeing up hospital beds. Michael voiced his optimism just before surgery: “It’s a wee bit scary, but I’ve a lot of faith in the staff.”
Dr. Nick Cromie, a cardiac electrophysiologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital, described the scientific precision of the Volt PFA procedure. Using high-energy electrical pulses, the treatment selectively targets abnormal heart tissue while minimizing the risk of damage to nearby structures like the oesophagus and blood vessels. “This system is a big step forward in both patient safety and the hospital being a lot more efficient with its staff and use of theatre time,” he said. The team accesses the heart chamber via a small puncture created in the blood vessels starting at the inner thigh, where a balloon catheter delivers electrical signals to the affected tissue to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Since its introduction, around sixty patients have undergone the procedure during this trial phase. Following its success, hospitals in England are preparing to adopt the Volt PFA system, with Dr. Riyaz Somani from University Hospitals of Leicester reporting encouraging initial results
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