Stepwise endo-/epicardial catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: The Mediterranea approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) among patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) are largely disappointing.

Objective

We sought to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of a single-stage stepwise endo-/epicardial approach in patients with persistent/longstanding-persistent AF.

Methods

We enrolled 25 consecutive patients with symptomatic persistent (n = 4) or longstanding-persistent (n = 21) AF and at least one prior endocardial procedure, who underwent CA using an endo-/epicardial approach. Our anatomical stepwise protocol included multiple endocardial as well as epicardial (Bachmann's bundle [BB] and ligament of Marshall ablations) components, and entailed ablation of atrial tachycardias emerging during the procedure. The primary

SUBMITTER: De Martino G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8457187 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature