Abbott has announced its Volt Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System is being used in procedures across the UK to treat people with atrial fibrillation (AFib). Fifteen NHS hospitals are taking part in a pioneering pilot that seeks to confirm the positive impact the Volt PFA System could have on patients in Britain and its 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; the Royal Devon; Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge; The Northern General Hospital, Sheffield; University Hospital Southampton and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
Abbott's Volt PFA System builds upon the company's 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.
An estimated 1.5 million people live with AFib1 in the UK. The condition increases risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications, placing a significant burden on the NHS2. When medication and other treatment options fail to work, many patients rely on a minimally invasive cardiac ablation procedure to effectively treat the condition by stopping irregular heart rhythms.
Abbott’s system offers a new enhanced solution that addresses key challenges in cardiac care, delivering both clinical efficiency and improved patient outcomes. Patients who undergo a minimally invasive ablation procedure with the Volt PFA Catheter can be placed under conscious sedation instead of general anesthesia, which is a significant benefit for patients where anesthesia is a barrier to performing ablations. The system also reduces exposure to radiation (fluoroscopy) and limits the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis).
The UK is experiencing growing anaesthesia workforce challenges, with a current shortfall of around 1,900 anaesthetists, which is estimated to prevent up to 1.4 million procedures per year3.
Dr Riyaz Somani, Consultant Cardiologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, was one of the first electrophysiologists in the UK to use the new system. He said: “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. Our initial experience has been overwhelmingly positive, with all patients tolerating the procedure very well with excellent acute success rates.”
Having received CE Mark in 2025, the system is a state-of-the-art pulsed field ablation system designed to overcome the limitations of traditional thermal ablation technologies. The system uses high-energy electrical pulses to precisely target and treat abnormal cardiac tissue, minimising the risk of damage to surrounding structures, such as the oesophagus or blood vessels. This innovation represents a significant step forward in both patient safety and procedural efficiency as it improves workflow by allowing for mapping, pacing, and ablating with a single catheter.
"We heard the physician feedback that patients need an alternative to general anesthesia during a PFA ablation procedure that doesn't sacrifice strong outcomes," said Christopher Piorkowski, M.D., 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."