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Off-pump epicardial compartmentalization for ablation of atrial fibrillation

^a Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, rue du Bugnon 46, Lausanne, Switzerland
^b Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland

^* Corresponding author. Tel.: +41-21-314-2280; fax: +41-21-314-2278
patrick.ruchat{at}chuv.hospvd.ch

The Cox–Maze-III procedure still remains the gold standard in surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.The major hazard of atrial fibrillation is thromboembolic event to the brain. Left atrial appendage (LAA) represents the source of thrombus and subsequent embolism although LAA obliteration is a key point to prevent thrombogenesis. We describe a simplified off-pump compartmentalization procedure using epicardial radiofrequency ablation of the left atrium and LAA stapling on the beating heart without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Key Words: Atrial fibrillation; Beating heart surgery; Radiofrequency ablation; Arrhythmia surgery; Stapling technique