PURPOSE: Evolution of anti-arrhythmia surgery beyond the Cox maze III has been hampered by the difficulty in implementing a complete lesion set in a truly minimally invasive approach. In this study, we introduce a true port-access procedure that addresses both autonomic and anatomic sources of atrial fibrillation, with real-time verification of all technical endpoints. DESCRIPTION: A total of 32 patients with persistent or longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation underwent the totally thoracoscopic anti-arrhythmia procedure incorporating pulmonary vein isolation, mapping of epicardial autonomics, extended linear ablations across critical segments of atrial substrate, and ligation of the left atrial appendage. All aspects of the procedure were confirmed with intraoperative electrophysiologic testing. EVALUATION: With 1 week of continuous rhythm surveillance at 3, 6, and 13 months postoperatively in all patients, 21 of 24 patients with 6-month follow-up are in sinus rhythm with no anti-arrhythmia medications. CONCLUSIONS: An anti-arrhythmia operation that is highly effective in patients with advanced forms of atrial fibrillation can be safely performed through a totally port-access approach.
PURPOSE: Evolution of anti-arrhythmia surgery beyond the Cox maze III has been hampered by the difficulty in implementing a complete lesion set in a truly minimally invasive approach. In this study, we introduce a true port-access procedure that addresses both autonomic and anatomic sources of atrial fibrillation, with real-time verification of all technical endpoints. DESCRIPTION: A total of 32 patients with persistent or longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation underwent the totally thoracoscopic anti-arrhythmia procedure incorporating pulmonary vein isolation, mapping of epicardial autonomics, extended linear ablations across critical segments of atrial substrate, and ligation of the left atrial appendage. All aspects of the procedure were confirmed with intraoperative electrophysiologic testing. EVALUATION: With 1 week of continuous rhythm surveillance at 3, 6, and 13 months postoperatively in all patients, 21 of 24 patients with 6-month follow-up are in sinus rhythm with no anti-arrhythmia medications. CONCLUSIONS: An anti-arrhythmia operation that is highly effective in patients with advanced forms of atrial fibrillation can be safely performed through a totally port-access approach.
Authors: Thomas M Beaver; Vishnumurthy Shushrutha Hedna; Anna Y Khanna; William M Miles; Catherine C Price; Ilona M Schmalfuss; Seyed Hossein Aalaei-Andabili; Michael F Waters Journal: Innovations (Phila) Date: 2016 Mar-Apr
Authors: Alexander Iribarne; Rachel Easterwood; Edward Y H Chan; Jonathan Yang; Lori Soni; Mark J Russo; Craig R Smith; Michael Argenziano Journal: Future Cardiol Date: 2011-05
Authors: Vishnumurthy Shushrutha Hedna; Christopher G Favilla; Waldo R Guerrero; Akhil Patel; Amareshwari Gottipati; Sharathchandra Bidari; Thomas Beaver; Michael F Waters Journal: J Cardiovasc Dis Res Date: 2012-10