OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — At 79 years old, Oklahoma City resident Sherry Ratterree wasn’t looking for a medical breakthrough — she simply wanted relief from atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that had begun disrupting her daily life.
What she found at CardioVascular Health Clinic was more than treatment. She became one of the first patients in the United States — and the very first in an Oklahoma ambulatory surgical center (ASC) — to undergo a next-generation pulsed field ablation (PFA) procedure using Abbott’s Volt™ system.
“My background is in the laboratory, so I was big in technology and changes. It was fabulous that there I was, I felt safe and that I was going to be well taken care of by the people around me, Ratterree said.”
For Ratterree, confidence came from the experience and reputation of Monica Lo, M.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist at CardioVascular Health Clinic — and a primary investigator in the research and development of the very technology used in her procedure.
Dr. Lo’s role in pre-clinical and clinical research included working alongside engineers to refine catheter design, ensure safety, and determine the most effective way to deliver the therapy before it ever reached patients.Ratterree also credits the entire team at CardioVascular Health Clinic, including interventional cardiologist, Dwayne A. Schmidt, who referred her to Dr. Lo.
“That level of expertise gave me peace,” Ratterree added. “I knew I was in the best hands possible.”
Ratterree’s procedure also marked a major milestone for Oklahoma: it was the first pulsed field ablation performed in an ambulatory surgical center, rather than a traditional hospital.
For patients, that difference matters.
Ambulatory surgical centers offer several advantages for procedures like PFA:
“Patients can now receive this advanced, minimally invasive treatment in a more comfortable, streamlined environment outside of a hospital,” said Dr. Lo. “ASC settings reduce complexity while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.”
Pulsed field ablation represents a major evolution in how AFib is treated.
Traditional ablation procedures — such as radiofrequency (heat-based) or cryoablation (freezing) — rely on extreme temperatures to destroy the heart tissue causing irregular rhythms. While effective, those approaches can sometimes affect nearby structures because heat and cold are less selective.
By contrast, pulsed field ablation uses precise, high-energy electrical pulses to target only the heart cells responsible for AFib. The technology works by opening the cell membranes of those specific cells, stopping the abnormal signals without relying on heat or freezing.
“This second-generation technology allows us to achieve effective results with fewer energy applications while minimizing risks associated with older approaches. It’s incredibly rewarding to see years of research translate into better outcomes for patients,” Lo said.
For patients, that difference can mean:
“I went in that morning, had the procedure, and was home by early afternoon,” Ratterree said. “That alone was amazing to me.”
For Ratterree, the benefits were immediate.
She had no pain after the procedure and was up, walking and eating in little time. Within a week, she had already discontinued two medications she previously relied on to manage her AFib.
“My blood pressure is better, and I feel more like myself,” she said. “That’s what I wanted — to feel normal again.”
Recovery is typically quick. Many patients return to normal routines within days, with minimal restrictions.
For Ratterree, the long-term outlook is what matters most.
“I’m looking forward to living the next 20 years without AFib,” she said. “At my age, that’s a gift.”
For CardioVascular Health Clinic, the procedure represents the future of AFib care — combining innovative technology, expert leadership, and the convenience of an outpatient setting.
“I feel very blessed,” Ratterree said. “To have this kind of technology, this kind of doctor, and this kind of care right here — it’s something special.”
