The arrhythmia team in the Division of Cardiology at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital has completed 500 pulsed field ablation (PFA) procedures, a next-generation treatment for atrial fibrillation. The hospital announced on the 28th that it is the first medical institution outside the Seoul metropolitan area and the third in South Korea to achieve this milestone.
After surpassing 200 cases in May, the team performed an additional 300 procedures in just four months to reach the 500-case mark.
The accomplishment builds on the hospital's extensive track record in advanced interventional cardiology. To date, Dongsan Hospital has performed a cumulative 8,000 catheter ablation procedures—which involve threading a thin catheter into the heart to isolate tissues triggering abnormal rhythms—including 3,400 cases specifically for atrial fibrillation. In addition, the team has logged 4,600 procedures involving implantable electronic cardiac devices, such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).
Atrial fibrillation, one of the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmias, causes the heart to beat rapidly and irregularly. If left untreated, it substantially elevates the risk of stroke, heart failure, and systemic thromboembolism, making accurate diagnosis and timely intervention vital.
Pulsed field ablation utilizes high-voltage, non-thermal electrical fields to selectively target cardiac tissue responsible for atrial fibrillation. Unlike traditional ablation modalities that rely on radiofrequency thermal energy or cryoenergy, PFA uses electroporation to deliver non-thermal tissue ablation. This significantly reduces the risk of accidental damage to adjacent structures—such as the esophagus or phrenic nerve—while noticeably shortening procedure times. Recent expansion of National Health Insurance coverage in South Korea has also reduced out-of-pocket costs for patients receiving the treatment.
Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital has consistently spearheaded the clinical adoption of PFA technology in South Korea. The hospital was the first in the country to introduce PFA equipment in 2024, and in January 2025, it became the second medical center nationwide to perform "radiation-zero" PFA, a technique engineered to minimize ionizing radiation exposure for patients and medical staff.
The hospital has since been officially designated as a "Radiation-Zero Pulsed Field Ablation Training Center," providing specialized procedural training and sharing clinical techniques with electrophysiologists from across South Korea and abroad.
"Reaching 500 PFA procedures as the first center outside the Seoul metropolitan area and the third nationwide is a deeply meaningful accomplishment," said Professor Park Hyung-seop. "Grounded in our clinical experience and research capabilities, we remain committed to delivering top-tier arrhythmia care so that regional patients can receive world-class treatment locally without needing to travel to the capital."
