Mater Private Network Cork has become one of the first hospitals in Ireland, and the first in Munster, to use dual-energy ablation to treat ventricular arrhythmias, abnormal heart rhythms that arise in the lower chambers of the heart and, in serious cases, can lead to cardiac arrest. The move gives cardiologists in the south of Ireland access to a treatment option previously available only at a handful of centres worldwide.

The procedure follows the first reported human use of dual-energy technology for a ventricular arrhythmia, described in a Mayo Clinic case report published in January 2026, positioning Mater Private Cork as an early adopter of the emerging approach.

Ventricular arrhythmias can be difficult to treat because the abnormal electrical signals may originate deep within the heart muscle or in hard to reach locations. Radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to target the tissue causing the abnormal rhythm, has been the established treatment, while dual-energy ablation allows cardiologists to switch between radiofrequency and pulsed field energy within the same procedure rather than relying on a single energy type.

"Ventricular arrhythmias can be among the more challenging heart rhythm disorders we treat," said Dr Pauriah. "The abnormal electrical activity can come from different areas of the heart and the best approach can depend on the location and type of tissue we are treating. Having two forms of energy available means we can choose the approach best suited to what we find."

"For patients, it gives us more options when treating these complex heart rhythms," Dr Pauriah added. "It also means selected patients can access this specialist treatment in Cork rather than travelling further afield or overseas for care."

The procedure used Johnson & Johnson's Dual Energy THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF technology alongside 3D cardiac mapping to pinpoint the source of the abnormal electrical activity. The platform's European rollout has been supported by clinical data showing high procedural effectiveness among patients treated under its recommended workflow.

The structural driver behind the adoption is the continued push to bring complex, low-volume cardiac interventions out of Dublin-centred national centres and into regional hospitals, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad or to the capital for specialist arrhythmia care.

For the sector, the adoption confirms that private hospital groups are competing on early access to emerging device technology as a way of anchoring complex cardiology cases regionally.

Source: techbuzzireland.com / link.springer.com / jnj.com