title: Minimally Invasive Atrial Fibrillation Surgery: Hybrid Approach.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is a challenging pathologic process. There continues to be a great need for the development of a reproducible, durable cure when medical management has failed. An effective, minimally invasive, sternal-sparing intervention without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass is a promising treatment approach. In this article, we describe a hybrid technique being refined at our center that combines a thoracoscopic epicardial surgical approach with an endocardial catheter-based procedure. We also discuss our results and review the literature describing this unique treatment approach.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Jared P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Beller
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Downs
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Gorav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ailawadi
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
keywords: ablation; atrial fibrillation; hybrid; minimally invasive