UZ Brussel further refines treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation using new ablation catheter

29/06/2026

UZ Brussel now performs ablation procedures using a new Pulsed Field Ablation catheter for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. In this heart rhythm disorder, the heart temporarily deviates from its normal rhythm due to disturbed electrical signals. The new catheter helps doctors accurately map the areas involved in the heart, treat them with short electrical pulses and verify during the same procedure whether the treatment has achieved the intended effect. This week, the first patient was treated with this new catheter at UZ Brussel. The patient is doing well and has since been discharged.

“For patients with atrial fibrillation, it is important that we can perform the treatment as precisely and carefully as possible,” says Prof. Dr Gian Battista Chierchia, electrophysiologist at UZ Brussel.

“We can now accurately map the anatomy of the heart, perform the ablation and check the result in a single procedure. This allows the intervention to proceed more smoothly and gives the treating team detailed information during the procedure to carry out the treatment with greater precision. For people living with recurrent heart rhythm disorders, a more targeted treatment can make an important difference to their daily functioning and quality of life.”

For this treatment, UZ Brussel is now also using the Sphere-360™ Pulsed Field Ablation catheter, part of the Affera™ system. This catheter uses Pulsed Field Ablation, a technique in which short electrical pulses are delivered to treat the heart tissue involved in the rhythm disorder in a targeted manner. Thanks to its flexible shape, the catheter can adapt to the patient’s anatomy, supporting precise and efficient treatment.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders

In this condition, the upper chambers of the heart contract irregularly, making the heart less efficient at pumping blood to the rest of the body. As a result, patients may experience palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue or reduced exercise capacity. The condition can also progress and is associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions, heart failure and reduced quality of life. Atrial fibrillation is becoming increasingly common, partly due to an ageing population and the rise in risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

In patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, where the rhythm disorder occurs in episodes, ablation may be a treatment option. During this procedure, the doctor uses a catheter to treat small areas of the heart that trigger or maintain the rhythm disorder. The aim is to better control the heart rhythm and reduce symptoms.