Concomitant Maze IV Ablation Procedure Performed Entirely by Bipolar Clamp Through Right Lateral Minithoracotomy

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 102; no. 5; pp. e473 - e475
• Main Authors: Mei, Ju, MD, PhD, Ma, Nan, MD, PhD, Jiang, Zhaolei, MD, PhD, Zhao, Dongfang, BA, Bao, Chunrong, MD, PhD, Ding, Fangbao, MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-11-2016
• Subjects: Aged; Atrial Fibrillation - complications; Atrial Fibrillation - surgery; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Catheter Ablation - methods; Female; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Humans; Male; Microsurgery - methods; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve - surgery; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - complications; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - surgery; Surgery; Thoracotomy - methods; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2016.05.027

Atrial fibrillation ablation with bipolar clamp has proved to be effective for patients with valvular atrial fibrillation. However, left pulmonary vein ablation with bipolar clamp through right minithoracotomy was considered difficult or impossible. In this report, we described a novel technique of performing concomitant Maze IV ablation procedure entirely by bipolar clamp through right minithoracotomy. Left pulmonary vein ablation with bipolar clamp was performed through an established channel and a natural space. This technique has proved to be safe and feasible and to have good clinical outcomes that may deserve further use for patients with atrial fibrillation and mitral valve disease.