title: Atrial Fibrillation Ablation by the Epicardial Approach.
abstract: Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, over long-term follow-up, it is becoming clear that AF often recurs and repeat ablation is required. With the goal of improving efficacy, particularly in those patients with risk factors for poor outcomes using a standard endocardial ablation technique, surgical epicardial ablation has emerged as an alternative methodology. Since its advent in the 1980s, surgical ablation techniques have continued to evolve. New ablation tools make a minimally invasive surgical approach possible. And most recently, we have seen the development of a hybrid (epicardial and endocardial) approach to AF ablation, which can draw upon the advantages of both options.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: K Gehi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: C Kiser
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mounsey