GOVERNMENT Medical College (GMC) and Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), Nagpur, have achieved a major milestone in cardiac care as its team of doctors successfully performed six Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) procedures, including a complex case of atrial fibrillation, making it the first Government hospital in India to use this next-generation technology for treating cardiac arrhythmias. Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) is an advanced, non-thermal ablation technology that selectively destroys abnormal heart tissue responsible for atrial fibrillation while minimising damage to surrounding structures such as the oesophagus, nerves and blood vessels. Until now, the technology was available only in a handful of private hospitals across the country.

 

The treatment is highly expensive, costing around Rs 40–50 lakh per patient in the United States and Rs 5–6 lakh per patient in India. The successful introduction of PFA at GMCH and SSH marks a significant step towards making world-class electrophysiology treatment more accessible through the public healthcare system. The procedures were performed by the electrophysiology team comprising Dr Sunil Washimkar, Dr P P Deshmukh, Dr Atul Rajput, Dr Vaibhav Yawalkar, Dr Rupesh Agrawal and Dr Sagar Chopde, with anaesthesia support from Dr Lulu Fatima Vali, Dr Ketaki Ramteke and Dr Aditya Rao.

 

The team received expert guidance from Dr Avinash Verma, Director – Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Heart and Vascular Institute. The electrophysiology team expressed gratitude to Hospital Administrator Dr Shailesh Gahukar, Officer on Special Duty Dr Sushma Thakre, and Dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye for their continuous guidance, administrative support and encouragement in establishing advanced cardiac electrophysiology services at GMCH and Super Speciality Hospital.