Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital becomes first in region to offer new AFib treatment
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Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital has become the first hospital in the Richmond region to treat a patient with a newly FDA-approved system for atrial fibrillation, a condition that affects nearly 60 million people worldwide.
The Medtronic Affera Mapping and Ablation System with Sphere-9 Catheter was used for the first procedures at the hospital Sept. 4 by Dr. An Barry Bui, director of cardiac electrophysiology for Bon Secours Richmond. The technology integrates mapping, ablation, and validation into one tool, giving physicians more flexibility to tailor treatment to each patient while improving safety and efficiency.
“This FDA-approved system not only provides a safe and effective treatment option for persistent AFib, it also allows us to tailor care to each patient,” Bui said. “We’re proud to bring this advanced technology to our community, advancing care for patients living with AFib and improving outcomes.”
The system is the first device to combine pulsed field ablation and radiofrequency ablation within a single catheter. RF ablation uses controlled heat to eliminate small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal electrical signals, while PFA delivers pulsed electric fields that selectively target pulmonary veins without thermal damage.
Bon Secours also was the first hospital in Virginia to introduce pulsed field ablation in February 2024.
The new procedure is now available at St. Mary’s Hospital, and Bon Secours is exploring ways to expand access throught its local facilities.
