OVERLAND PARK, KAN. – (Jan. 12, 2026) – The cardiology team at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, led by DJ Lakkireddy, MD, board-certified electrophysiologist and executive medical director of Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest Health, has performed the first procedure using a new pulsed field ablation (PFA) technology system, a breakthrough treatment option for people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Dr. Lakkireddy is the first physician in the nation – and within HCA Healthcare –to use this technology. Overland Park Regional Medical Center is part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider.
PFA works by delivering highly targeted electrical pulses to specific areas of the heart to destroy the cells responsible for abnormal heart rhythms. This approach helps reduce the risk of damage to surrounding tissue, particularly for patients with complex disease or anatomy. This latest advancement in AFib treatment utilizes the Volt™ PFA system from Abbott, a leading manufacturer of structural heart solutions.
The technology features an all-in-one catheter design that supports diagnosis, mapping, and ablation, and can be used during procedures performed under either conscious sedation or general anesthesia. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for patients for whom anesthesia may otherwise be a barrier to ablation treatment.
“As the largest AFib treatment provider in the region, being the first in the country to offer this new, innovative procedure reflects our team’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care for AFib patients,” said Dr. Lakkireddy. “Atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias can significantly impact quality of life, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and chest pain. Left untreated, arrhythmias also increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. The growing adoption of pulsed field ablation technology offers new promise for patients, and this system addresses limitations associated with earlier generations of PFA technology.”
Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, home to the region’s largest and most advanced electrophysiology program, is internationally recognized for world-class arrhythmia care. The institute is known for adopting cutting-edge technologies supported by high-quality research and education. Its physicians have published extensively on left atrial appendage (LAA) therapies and have treated thousands of patients, helping reduce AFib-related stroke risk and bleeding complications associated with blood thinners.
“Our cardiology team is committed to providing our community with access to the most advanced and effective treatment options,” said Overland Park Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Matt Sogard. “We are proud to continually advance care through innovation while improving quality of life for our patients.”
About AFib
Atrial fibrillation occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat out of coordination with the lower chambers (ventricles), resulting in rapid and irregular heart rhythms – often between 350 and 600 beats per minute compared to a normal rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Approximately 12 million people in the United States over the age of 65 are living with AFib, a number expected to double over the next 20 years. Individuals with AFib face a fivefold increased risk of stroke, and the condition has been a primary or contributing cause of death in the United States for more than two decades.
For more information about HCA Midwest Health’s heart and vascular care, services, and advanced technology, visit www.hcamidwest.com/heart.
About Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Overland Park Regional Medical Center (OPRMC)—part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider — is a licensed 351-bed facility offering pediatric and adult acute and outpatient medical services, which includes a network of more than 700 physicians offering more than 30 specialties. OPRMC is Johnson County’s only Level II Trauma Center, is a premier area destination for Women & Children’s healthcare services; it includes the region’s only Maternal Fetal Health Center, to care for critically ill mothers and their baby under one roof. The hospital includes a Level III NICU and Pediatrics. OPRMC includes three emergency rooms. Learn more at oprmc.com.
About HCA Midwest Health
As the Kansas City area’s largest healthcare provider, HCA Midwest Health comprises seven hospitals and dozens of outpatient centers, clinics, physician practices, surgery centers, and other facilities and services to meet residents’ healthcare needs. HCA Midwest Health is one of the area’s largest employers, with more than 10,000 colleagues and an annual local economic impact of more than $1.4 billion. That includes more than $102 million annually in charity and uncompensated care and more than $200 million in federal, state, and local taxes to help improve the schools, roads, and infrastructure of the communities we serve. HCA Midwest Health facilities include Research Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Belton Regional Medical Center, Lafayette Regional Health Center, and Research Psychiatric Center. HCA Midwest Physicians, part of HCA Midwest Health, is a network of experienced, multi-specialty physicians throughout the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Currently, HCA Midwest Physicians represents nearly 600 providers. It includes 80+ specialties and provides care in 150+ locations to serve our community. The physicians, licensed professionals, and support staff who comprise the HCA Midwest Health team are dedicated to improving healthcare in the Greater Kansas City and outlying areas to create healthier communities that lead to healthier tomorrows. For more information, visit hcamidwest.com.
For more information, please contact:
Christine Hamele
HCA Midwest Health, Associate Vice President, Public Relations and Community Affairs
Public Information Officer
913-208-5566 | christine.hamele@hcamidwest.com
Kimberly Winter Stern
HCA Midwest Health News Bureau
913-449-4294 | kimberlyHCAMidwest@sternwrites.com