Left-thoracoscopic Convergent ablation for atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Epicardial Convergent ablation followed by endocardial touch-up and an additional ablation may be superior to catheter-based interventions in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. We sought to extend the epicardial lesion set by changing the standard subxiphoid thoracotomy to a left-lateral, totally thoracoscopic approach. This tutorial depicts a closed-chest, beating-heart procedure, including ablation of the left atrial posterior wall, the left atrial dome, and the left pulmonary veins. The left atrial appendage is closed using an epicardial occlusion device.