Abbott announced recently that its Volt pulsed field ablation (PFA) system is being used in procedures across the UK to treat people with atrial fibrillation (AF), with 15 National Health Service (NHS) hospitals taking part in a pilot study that seeks to confirm the positive impact the Volt PFA system could have on patients in the UK as well as the country’s wider healthcare system through improved outcomes and increased efficiency.
Some of the first sites to have started using this system across the UK include Glenfield Hospital (Leicester), Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds), Royal Devon (Devon), Royal Papworth Hospital (Cambridge), Northern General Hospital (Sheffield), University Hospital Southampton (Southampton) and Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast).
Abbott says that its Volt PFA system builds upon the company’s leading electrophysiology portfolio by providing an all-in-one product that allows clinicians to “safely map, pace and ablate with the same catheter”. Volt’s proprietary ‘balloon-in-basket’ design features multiple handling options for ease of use and allows for efficient energy transfer directly to the targeted tissue to stop the heart’s erratic signals, the company also claims.
Additionally, according to Abbott, patients who undergo a minimally invasive ablation procedure with the Volt PFA catheter can be placed under conscious sedation instead of general anaesthesia, which is a “significant benefit” for patients in whom anaesthesia is a barrier to performing ablations. The Volt PFA system also reduces exposure to radiation and limits haemolysis.
“By providing a treatment option that doesn’t require general anaesthetic, we hope to be able to deliver atrial fibrillation ablation not only safely and effectively but also more efficiently, allowing us to treat more patients and help reduce our waiting lists,” said Riyaz Somani (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK), who was one of the first electrophysiologists in the UK to use the new system. “Our initial experience has been overwhelmingly positive, with all patients tolerating the procedure very well with excellent acute success rates.”
“We heard the physician feedback that patients need an alternative to general anaesthesia during a PFA ablation procedure that doesn’t sacrifice strong outcomes,” added Christopher Piorkowski, chief medical officer of Abbott’s electrophysiology business. “The Volt PFA system is an option for patients who prefer conscious sedation, which can also lead to faster recovery times and shorter procedures for millions of people who suffer from an abnormal heart rhythm across Europe.”
Abbott received European CE-mark approval of its Volt PFA system in March 2025.
