First at PKUIH：76-Year-Old Undergoes New Painless Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Treatment

76-year-old Mr. Zhang had been dealing with occasional episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib), a fast, chaotic heart rhythm. Recurring symptoms surfaced in early 2025 of heart palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. However, the thought of pain from surgery held Mr. Zhang back on having a procedure. 

This dilemma—wanting treatment but fearing the pain—was perfectly resolved for Mr. Zhang at Peking University International Hospital (PKUIH). It also brings new hope for safe and comfortable treatment to more AFib patients like him.

Recently, the cardiovascular medicine team at Peking University International Hospital, led by Associate Professor Yang Yao and Dr. Wang Ning, successfully completed the hospital's first PulseSelect™ pulsed field ablation (PFA) procedure—also being one of the first clinical applications of this procedure for AFib treatment nationwide since its launch. To ensure the procedure was both safe and efficient while maximizing the patient's overall experience, the cardiovascular team, with support from the nursing and anesthesia teams, performed the AFib pulsed field ablation under general anesthesia.

The patient successfully returned to sinus rhythm after the surgery, with excellent results. The successful execution of this pulsed field AFib ablation under general anesthesia highlights that Peking University International Hospital has reached an internationally advanced level in AFib treatment while also setting an industry benchmark through its multidisciplinary collaboration, ensuring the best possible experience for patients during medical procedures. 

Associate Professor Yang Yao's team performing pulsed field ablation

Advantages of Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

AFib is one of the most common arrhythmias. According to epidemiological statistics, there are over 20 million AFib patients in China, yet the proportion of those who actually receive treatment through catheter ablation remains low. Beyond the lack of standardized screening and limited awareness about AFib treatment, many patients resist the procedure due to fears about surgical risks and intraoperative pain—a significant contributing factor.

Compared to traditional radiofrequency ablation, pulsed field ablation (PFA) offers high tissue selectivity, extremely fast ablation speed, and a more streamlined procedure. It can precisely target pathological lesions while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, significantly reducing the occurrence of complications—achieving both speed and quality.

Traditional radiofrequency ablation is usually performed only under local anesthesia, and the significant burning pain during the procedure is often unbearable for patients, leading to a poor experience. In some cases, patients in extreme pain may require additional analgesics during the procedure, which can increase intraoperative risks and prolong surgery time.

In contrast, painless AFib pulsed field ablation (PFA) under general anesthesia can greatly enhance both the patient's experience and the surgical outcome, offering a superior and more humane treatment option for AFib patients. However, performing painless pulsed field ablation under general anesthesia requires the hospital to have a multidisciplinary team composed of experienced cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and nursing staff, working together with precision and efficiency to ensure the procedure's success.

Intraoperative image of patient undergoing pulsed field ablation

In recent years, the Department of Cardiology at Peking University International Hospital, by bringing in globally renowned experts such as Nie Shaoping, has achieved breakthroughs in various cutting-edge techniques, including painless AFib pulsed field ablation under general anesthesia and complex coronary interventions and chronic total occlusions (procedure after artery blockage over a long time). Moving forward, the Department of Cardiology at Peking University International Hospital will continue to dedicate itself to exploring new techniques and innovating in clinical applications, providing more advanced, effective, and comfortable treatment options for more patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Associate Professor Yang Yao's team after the surgery

Expert Insights

Nie Shaoping, Vice President - "Painless procedures under general anesthesia are a unique advantage of cardiovascular surgeries at Peking University International Hospital. Since the hospital's founding, we have positioned the catheterization lab adjacent to the operating rooms, with the initial goal of maximizing multidisciplinary collaboration. This ensures the safe and efficient execution of every surgery while providing patients with a positive treatment experience. Our cardiovascular team will continue to work hard to help alleviate patients' fear of surgical pain, enabling them to receive treatment with peace of mind and confidence."

Yang Yao, Associate Professor - "The PulseSelect™ pulsed field ablation technology represents a milestone breakthrough in the field of atrial fibrillation. Its high efficiency, flexibility (integrating mapping, ablation, and pacing capabilities), and safety make it particularly suitable for complex AFib cases in elderly patients or those with multiple comorbidities, bringing new hope to patients who were previously unable to tolerate surgery."