Hybrid convergent procedure for the treatment of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: David De Lurgio, Emory University; Jaswinder S. Gill, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust; Syed Ahsan, St Bartholomew's Hospital; Riyaz A. Kaba, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Kristen M. Plasseraud, AtriCure, Inc.; Michael Halkos, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-10-01
• Publisher: Radcliffe Cardiology
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021, Radcliffe Cardiology
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.15420/aer.2021.24
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology Review
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 198
• End Page: 204
• Keywords: endocardial; epicardial; Hybrid ablation; persistent atrial fibrillation; hybrid convergent; long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Recent advances have been made in AF treatment Including the role of early rhythm control and landmark clinical trials using ablation therapy. However Some treatment gaps remain including the creation of durable lesions outside the pulmonary veins and effective treatment of longstanding persistent AF. A novel epicardial-endocardial ablation approach - the hybrid convergent procedure - was developed to combine surgical and catheter ablation techniques into a collaborative multidisciplinary approach to managing AF. In this review the authors discuss recently published data on hybrid convergent ablation including results of the CONVERGE clinical trial in the context of current challenges to treatment of persistent and long-standing persistent AF. The review also aims to provide perspective on outstanding questions and future directions in this area.