TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Medical University said Thursday it is using pulsed field ablation, PFA, to treat arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat.

The hospital held a news conference Thursday to unveil its latest treatment. Cho Shih-chieh (卓士傑), a cardiologist, said that PFA can precisely eliminate abnormal heart tissue and reduce the risk of complications such as esophageal and nerve damage, common in traditional surgeries.

Cho said that PFA surgery is significantly faster, takes around 30 minutes, and reduces patient stress by minimizing anesthesia time, per CNA.

The hospital has previously used treatments such as radiofrequency ablation, cryoballoon ablation, and 3D mapping to find heart abnormalities. While effective in improving symptoms, these methods can involve long surgery time and an increased risk of complications.

Hsu Po-chao (許栢超), a cardiologist at the hospital, said that abnormal heartbeat symptoms include palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. He added that it significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart failure.

Kaohsiung Medical University Vice President Tai Chia-yen (戴嘉言) said the average prevalence of atrial fibrillation in Taiwan is about 1.2%, rising to 2.3% for those 65 and older and 10% for those 80 and above. He added that an abnormal heartbeat can affect people of all ages.