title: The Berglin apical stitch: a simple technique to straighten things out in atrial fibrillation surgery.
abstract: In the Cox-Maze IV procedure, or in endocardial left atrial ablation, correct positioning of the surgical ablation probe within the left atrium might be difficult due to bulging or folds in the posterior left atrial wall. The Berglin apical stitch is a simple trick of the trade to create a smooth surface in the posterior left atrium that facilitates performing a safe transmural lesion and, consequently, may increase antiarrhythmic efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden anders.albage@akademiska.se.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albåge
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jidéus
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lidén
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scherstén
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ablation techniques; Atrial fibrillation; Cryosurgery