title: Video-assisted bilateral epicardial pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of lone atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper aims to evaluate the feasibility and the efficacy of a new off-pump, bilateral thoracoscopic pulmonary vein isolation technique in patients with lone atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2004 and February 2006, 26 drug-resistant and symptomatic lone atrial fibrillation patients (18 permanent, 8 paroxysmal) underwent an irrigated radiofrequency ablation procedure using the Cardioblate ablation system (Medtronic, Minnesota). There were 16 men and 10 women with a mean age of 55 +/- 11 years. Mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 34.2 +/- 18.9 months. All patients underwent a bilateral thoracoscopic procedure in which both pulmonary veins were ablated with an atrial cuff using an off-pump epicardial approach. The conduction block was assessed by pacing the pulmonary veins after each ablation. Sixteen patients underwent endoscopic stapling of the left atrial appendage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no hospital deaths. All procedures were completed as planned without any conversions to sternotomy. There were no major complications. Follow-up was complete at 6 months, and 80% of the patients were in sinus rhythm (paroxysmal: 100%, permanent: 72%). Of the patients with permanent atrial fibrillation, 85% had regained their atrial transport function. No major thromboembolic event was observed during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The video-assisted bilateral pulmonary vein isolation technique was safe and effective. It was curative for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients and effective for permanent atrial fibrillation cases. This technique may find wider application if accumulating data further support these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagbas
authors.forename: Belhhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akpinar
authors.forename: Ilhan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanisoglu
authors.forename: Bariş
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caynak
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tamtekin
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Onan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome