Korean Circ J.  2013 Jun;43(6):422-425. 10.4070/kcj.2013.43.6.422.

A Hybrid Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation Using Total Thoracoscopic Ablation and Post-Procedural Electrophysiological Confirmation of Ablation Lines

• Jeong DS
• Jeong JH
• Park PW
• Lee YT
• Park SJ
• Kim JS
• On YK

• KMID: 2224905
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2013.43.6.422

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic arrhythmia in the world, and it is associated with an increased long-term risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. To overcome the limitations of transvenous radiofrequency (RF) ablation for AF, total thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) has evolved as a new technique. TTA has several advantages over transvenous RF ablation and is known to produce better outcomes, especially in patients with persistent AF. Herein, we report 2 cases of successful TTA followed by an electrophysiological study confirming satisfactory ablation lines; the first such procedure reported in Korea.

Keyword

Atrial fibrillation; Ablation techniques

MeSH Terms

Ablation Techniques
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Atrial Fibrillation
Chimera
Heart Failure
Humans
Korea
Stroke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Operative photograph. A: right pulmonary vein isolation (short arrow, antrum of pulmonary veins; long arrow, SA node). B: excision of left atrial appendage (arrow, left atrial appendage).

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