Is a Hybrid Procedure the Gold Standard in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation?

Endocardial radiofrequency catheter ablation is considered to be a useful procedure for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, catheter ablation has difficulties in achieving successful results in patients with persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Currently, the gold standard is surgical ablation (the Cox maze III procedure). However, because surgical ablation requires a sternotomy and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass and has been associated with surgery-related complications, minimally invasive (totally thoracoscopic) and epicardial-endocardial (hybrid) ablation procedures have been developed. This article reviews the primary surgical and hybrid approaches used to treat persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Hybrid; Thoracoscopy