Severance Hospital named global training hub for FARAPULSE PFA system

Severance Hospital will train physicians from around the world in the use of the FARAPULSE pulsed field ablation (PFA) system, the latest treatment for atrial fibrillation.

The hospital said Friday it has been designated an International Training Center for the FARAPULSE PFA System -- the first such center in Korea.

This designation follows its previous role as a training center for the VARIPULSE PFA System, further solidifying Severance Hospital’s expertise and leadership in pulsed field ablation.

PFA is a procedure in which a thin catheter is inserted into the heart to deliver electrical energy to areas responsible for atrial fibrillation. FARAPULSE PFA uses a single high-voltage pulse to eliminate these areas, while, according to Severance Hospital, the VARIPULSE system uses multiple low-voltage pulses to achieve the same effect.

Compared to existing treatments such as radiofrequency ablation and cryoballoon ablation, PFA is gaining attention for its safety profile, offering a significantly lower risk of serious complications such as esophageal perforation and phrenic nerve injury.

Severance Hospital has performed 170 PFA procedures -- the highest number in Korea.

“After introducing pulsed field ablation in Korea, we have now been recognized internationally as a training center, covering both VARIPULSE and FARAPULSE,” said Joung Bo-young, director of the Severance Hospital Arrhythmia Center. “Through this designation, we aim to raise the global standard by training physicians in various PFA techniques.”