UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Williamsport Offers Targeted, Minimally Invasive Option for Arrhythmias

April 27, 2026

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Electrophysiologists at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Williamsport now offer pulsed field ablation (PFA), a new, minimally invasive treatment option for atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common abnormal heart rhythm.

“AFib is a complex rhythm disorder and is the most common abnormal heart rhythm we see in our practice,” said Suppiramaniam Sreeharikesan, M.D. (Dr. Kesan for short), electrophysiologist, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. “Adding this new procedure advances the level of heart care in the region. Studies have shown PFA can decrease the risk of complications compared with other kinds of ablation and we know there are patients who will directly benefit from it here in the community.”

PFA uses short bursts of electrical energy delivered through a specially designed catheter to target and destroy the specific heart tissue causing the irregular heartbeat. The short pulses of high-energy electricity create small holes in the cell membrane of the targeted tissue, leading to cell death. The electrical pulses are more specifically targeted, so there is a lower risk of damaging nearby structures like the esophagus and phrenic nerve than traditional catheter ablation.

“We know patients want to be in the hospital for as short of a stay as possible. An added benefit of PFAs is that they are generally same-day procedures,” said Dr. Kesan. “The length of the procedure can vary depending on factors like the size of a patient’s heart chambers and their specific type of AFib. However, most PFA procedures last between one and two hours and require a few additional hours of recovery observation, which if a patient is cleared, they are discharged to recover at home. Most patients can then return to their normal routine one week post-procedure.”

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the leading centers for cardiovascular care in the United States. To learn more about the experts and services available for diagnosis and treatment in northcentral Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/HeartNCPA.