HJAR Jul/Aug 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JUL / AUG 2026 53 Bilal Saqi, MD Electrophysiologist St. Vincent Heart Institute (PFA), which uses short bursts of electrical pulses. With PFA, we break down the cells at a cellular level, preserving tissue surround- ing the heart from any possible exposure to the ablation. While the technique differs, the aimof both traditional heating ablation and the new PFA remains the same: to electrically disconnect the pulmonary veins that lead into the left upper chamber of the heart. By isolating these problematic areas, we can effectively “reboot” the heart’s electrical system and re- store a healthier, more consistent rhythm. It’s important to remember that medical decisions are rarely one-size-fits-all. Tailoring treatment plans to the patient helps maximize our success and leads to a better quality of life for those living with atrial arrhythmias. n Bilal Saqi, MD, is an electrophysiologist with the St. Vincent Heart Institute.He is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and echocardiog- raphy. He earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bach- elor of Surgery fromArmy Medical College, National University of Sciences &Technology in Pakistan, and completed a cardiology fellowship at Lehigh Valley Health Network/University of South Florida College of Medicine Programand an internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is a recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, and is an active researcher.His research focuses on advancements in cardiac electrophysiology,atrial fibrillation,and various cardiac complications. • Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), which are extra, early heart beats that can feel like skipped beats. Heart arrhythmias can also be classified by speed: tachycardia (fast heart rate) or bradycardia (slow heart rate). Common ex- amples include atrial fibrillation, atrial flut- ter, ventricular tachycardia, and premature contractions. To diagnose heart arrhythmias, electro- physiologists rely on several diagnostic tools, including electrocardiograms, Holter and event monitors, and cardiac electrophysiol- ogy studies (EPS). A cardiac electrophysiol- ogy study is a procedure to map the heart’s electrical pathways to pinpoint the source of the problem. A New Kind of Ablation for AFib Treatment Cardiac ablation is a first-line treatment for heart arrhythmias. A cardiac ablation involves strategically heating small areas of heart tissue to interrupt the erratic elec- trical signals causing the arrhythmia. This tried-and-true method has helped countless patients regain control of their heart health. However, as medical science has advanced, so have the options available to patients. We’re now using a non-thermal mecha- nism that’s called a pulsed field ablation HEART ARRHYTHMIAS are problems with the heart’s electrical signals that cause an abnormal rate or rhythm. Cardiac ablation has been the standard of care for decades, but new options are now available to patients. Arrhythmias Basics Heart arrhythmias are characterized by a number of factors. They are broadly catego- rized based on where the abnormal electrical signal starts in the heart. Supraventricular arrhythmias (or atrial arrhythmias) occur in the upper heart chambers (atria). Common supraventricular arrhythmias include: • Atrial fibrillation (AFib), which presents as a rapid, irregular heartbeat where the atria quiver; • Atrial flutter, which presents as a rapid, but more organized, heartbeat of the atria; and • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which presents as a fast heartbeat that starts in the atria or nearby structures. Ventricular arrhythmias occur in the lower heart chambers (ventricles). Common ven- tricular arrhythmias include: • Ventricular tachycardia (VT), which presents as a very fast heartbeat; • Ventricular fibrillation (VF), a life- threatening arrhythmia where the ven- tricles quiver ineffectively; and