title: Thoracoscopic epicardial left atrial ablation in symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The low efficacy rates reported for conventional catheter ablation of longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LPAF) have led to the development of alternative techniques such as minimal invasive surgical ablation, aiming for durable and contiguous transmural lesions. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of total thoracoscopic epicardial left atrial ablation (TELA-AF) procedures in a prospective study of severely symptomatic patients with either drug-resistant AF and/or failed attempts of catheter ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TELA-AF surgical technique includes pulmonary vein isolation, left atrial (LA) 'box lesion', and partial vagal denervation. The LA appendage was excluded if deemed safe. Patients were followed with clinical evaluations and 12-lead electrocardiograms at 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgical intervention, complemented with a 7-day Holter monitoring after 6 and 12 months. Sixty patients, of whom 38 (63%) suffered from LPAF, underwent TELA-AF between November 2008 and December 2010. One patient with LPAF was lost to follow-up. At 12-month follow-up, 55/59 patients (93%) were free from atrial fibrillation (AF), while 7/59 patients (12%) suffered from recurrent LA tachycardia. Among patients with LPAF, 32/37 (86%) maintained sinus rhythm after 12 months. Adverse events included four perioperative bleedings requiring conversion to sternotomy in three cases, two ischaemic strokes and one transient ischaemic attack.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The total thoracoscopic surgical ablation procedure is highly effective even in patients with LPAF, and it seems safe. The high rate of iatrogenic LA re-entrant tachycardia, however, warrants further improvement of the technique.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden johan.probst@gmail.com.
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Probst
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Institution of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Lena
authors: L
authors: Jidéus
authors: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden.
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Blomström
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Institution of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Vitas
authors: V
authors: Zemgulis
authors: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Institution of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Wassberg
authors: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Lönnerholm
authors: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Malmborg
authors: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 85, Sweden.
authors: Carina
authors: C
authors: Blomström Lundqvist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D013548:Sweden; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac surgery; Thoracoscopic surgical ablation