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Randall K. Wolf
Walter Merrill
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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2005;130:797-802
© 2005 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery


Evolving Technology

Video-assisted bilateral pulmonary vein isolation and left atrial appendage exclusion for atrial fibrillation

Randall K. Wolf, MD a , * , E. William Schneeberger, MD a , Robert Osterday, PA a , Doug Miller, MED a , Walter Merrill, MD a , John B. Flege, Jr, MD a , A. Marc Gillinov, MD b

a Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery at The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
b Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Received for publication November 1, 2004; revisions received March 11, 2005; accepted for publication March 31, 2005.

* Address for reprints: Randall K. Wolf, MD, The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, 231 Albert B. Sabin Way, PO Box 670558, Cincinnati, OH 45267 (Email: wolfr{at}ucmail.uc.edu).

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary vein isolation is curative in selected patients with atrial fibrillation. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety (midterm results) of video-assisted thoracoscopic epicardial pulmonary vein isolation.

METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (22 male patients) with atrial fibrillation (18 paroxysmal, 4 persistent, and 5 permanent; average age, 57 years) underwent bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic off-pump epicardial pulmonary vein isolation and exclusion of the left atrial appendage. All patients had had unsuccessful drug therapy or were intolerant to antiarrhythmic drug therapy or were intolerant to warfarin. The approach included two 10-mm ports and one 5-cm working port (non–rib spreading) bilaterally. Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved bilaterally by using a bipolar radiofrequency device. The left atrial appendage was excised with a surgical stapler.

RESULTS: Bilateral pulmonary vein isolation and left atrial appendage excision was performed successfully in all patients. There were no conversions to sternotomy or thoracotomy. All patients were extubated in the operating room. Postoperative complications in 3 patients were minor and resolved within 48 hours. One morbidly obese patient had more serious complications related to comorbid conditions. Average postoperative follow-up is approximately 6 months (173.6 days). Twenty-three patients have been followed up for greater than 3 months, and 21 of these patients are free of atrial fibrillation (91.3%). The results of magnetic resonance angiography were normal (no pulmonary vein stenosis) in 12 of 12 patients evaluated 3 to 6 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary vein isolation with excision of the left atrial appendage is feasible and safe and offers a promising, new, minimally invasive, beating-heart approach for curative surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.





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