The evidence
What published research says about PFA, RFA, and the doctor holding the catheter. In plain English, with citations.
You may have been offered PFA, pulsed field ablation, because it is a newer way to treat atrial fibrillation. RFA, radiofrequency ablation, uses carefully controlled heat; PFA uses short electrical pulses instead. Both treat the same small areas of heart tissue that trigger AF.
In 2025, large trials directly comparing the two reported their results: PFA and RFA performed broadly comparably; the right choice depends on the patient.1
The volume effect
Across published studies, one factor shows up again and again: how often the centre, and the doctor, performs the procedure.2
Professor Gupta has performed over 300 a year, every year since 2009.3
The right question is not “which technology?” It is “who is holding the catheter?” Professor Gupta offers both RFA and PFA, and chooses the right tool for each patient.
Selected publications
Peer-reviewed work on AF ablation, stroke prevention, and outcomes, from the journals that set the standard of care.
Twenty curated highlights from more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, cited over 13,000 times. View full list on ORCID →
Common questions
PFA (pulsed field ablation) is newer, but newer does not automatically mean better. In the largest studies directly comparing the two, published in 2025, PFA and RFA (radiofrequency ablation) produced broadly comparable results.¹ What consistently makes the biggest difference to safety and success in published research is the experience of the doctor performing the procedure.²
Catheter ablation is a routine, well-established procedure carried out hundreds of thousands of times a year worldwide. Like any procedure it carries some risk, and your doctor will explain those risks for your situation. Published research shows complication rates are lower at centres and with doctors who perform a high volume of these procedures.² Professor Gupta’s published complication rate is below 1%.³
Professor Gupta is trained and experienced in both. Neither is right for every patient. He will assess your heart, your history and your preferences, explain the options in plain language, and recommend the one that suits you - not the one that happens to be available.
Most patients go home the same day or the next morning, and are back to normal light activity within a few days. Your care team will give you clear, written instructions for the first weeks, and follow-up is arranged with a trusted local cardiologist under Professor Gupta’s supervision.
No. Consultations and procedures take place in Mumbai during Professor Gupta’s scheduled visits. Between visits, your follow-up happens locally, coordinated with cardiologists he works with - so you are never without a doctor close to home.
An unhurried conversation. Professor Gupta will review your history, any recordings or scans you have, and explain what is happening in your heart in plain language - in English, Hindi or Punjabi. You will leave with a clear plan, whether or not that plan includes a procedure.
A short enquiry costs nothing, and every one is answered.
Next Mumbai visit: March 2026 · Booking open
