Linda Olpin

On three different occasions, paddles delivered electric shocks to Linda Olpin’s heart in attempts to restore its regular, steady rhythm. Each time, the procedure did the trick, but the relief only remained temporarily. Eventually, Linda’s heart sped, sputtered and skipped again, leaving her tired and weak. 

Linda’s heart had skipped for decades, but recently she faced a long, dramatic spell that turned her life upside down. Her heart raced between 110 and 130 beats per minute for two months straight!

“It never quit, night or day. I was running a marathon all the time and I couldn’t do much more than that,” Linda said. “When your heart is in atrial fibrillation like that, you’re totally exhausted.”

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. The condition increases a person’s risk of stroke and often causes a chaotic, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain and fatigue. 

Thankfully a new treatment for A-fib is now available in Utah, and MountainStar Healthcare is the first hospital system in Utah to have performed the treatment on patients

When Linda went to see Dr. David Wang, a cardiologist who specializes in electrophysiology, he told Linda about the cutting-edge minimally invasive intervention called pulsed field ablation (PFA). This new treatment uses a controlled electric field to ablate the cardiac tissue causing irregular heartbeats.

While traditional ablation methods use extreme temperatures, either to freeze or cauterize problematic cardiac tissue, pulsed field ablation uses strategically placed electricity, minimizing risks of damaging surrounding tissue. The new treatment, which can be performed in less time than the traditional method, is anticipated to become widely used throughout the United States. 

“I didn’t even know there was a brand-new procedure,” Linda said. “I just knew Dr. Wong was one of the best heart electricians in the state. I had complete faith in him!” 

Linda praises the new treatment that restored her rhythm and energy

On the day of the PFA procedure, Linda arrived at Timpanogos Regional Hospital early in the morning with her heart racing – though not because of anxious nerves. Inside, Linda said she felt hopeful and at peace. That afternoon, after the procedure, Linda woke from anesthesia equally calm but without her heart’s chaotic commotion. 

“I remember waking up … and my heart wasn’t racing anymore! I rested in the hospital a bit, and then returned to my home in Highland that evening. I’m so pleased with the way it all went. I’m pleased with the competent and assuring staff, pleased with the nice clean hospital, and I’m pleased with the results. It was wonderful,” Linda said. 

Linda cheerfully reported that her heart now beats steadily between 72 and 79 bpm. With the restored and regular heart rate has come a renewal of energy. Linda believes the new treatment permanently evicted the pesky A-fib that had been robbing her of strength, and she said she feels dramatically more lively than before.

“On Sunday, I actually fried some chicken! I just didn’t even want to do that before, but now I want to do things again. I just feel better,” Linda said. “I would definitely recommend this new procedure!”