Midterm outcomes of two-staged hybrid ablation of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation using the versapolar epicardial surgical device and subsequent catheter ablation.

PURPOSE: Hybrid ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a promising treatment strategy for patients with non-paroxysmal AF, although, data regarding mid-term outcomes are limited.

METHODS: Patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF were enrolled. Initially, a thoracoscopic, right-sided, epicardial ablation was performed, with a goal of creating a box lesion on the posterior wall of the left atrium; a novel versapolar radiofrequency (RF) catheter was used. In patients enrolled later, occlusion of the left atrial appendage was also performed. An endocardial procedure was performed 2-4 months later, with the goal of confirming/completing the box lesion and ablating the ganglionated plexi and cavotricuspid isthmus. Efficacy was assessed using multiple 24-h and 1-week Holter monitoring. Analysis was performed to search for variables associated with procedure's failure.

RESULTS: Forty-one patients (14 persistent and 27 long-standing persistent AF) were enrolled with a mean AF duration of 33.5 ± 33.1 months. Mean follow-up was 507.2 ± 201.1 days (180-731). At the last follow-up visit, 27(65%) patients were arrhythmia-free, without anti-arrhythmics or need for re-ablation. Additional 4 patients (9.8%) were in sinus rhythm (SR) following re-ablation of postprocedural peri-mitral flutter and 4 (9.8%) were in SR on anti-arrhythmics. Longer periods of preoperative AF were independently associated with worse arrhythmia-free survival (p = 0.015). Serious postoperative complications occurred in 3 (7.3%) patients; only 1 (2.4%) patient had clinical consequences after 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid ablation of non-paroxysmal AF using a novel, versapolar RF device yields promising mid-term results. Better arrhythmia-free survival rates were found in AF patients with shorter AF duration.