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Updated: Aug 31, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
[Surgical treatment of therapy resistant atrial fibrillation]
N Doll1, A M Fabricius, J F Gummert
1Herzzentrum, Klinik für Herzchirurgie, Universität Leipzig, Strümpellstrasse 39, 04289 Leipzig, Germany. dolln@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Abstract:
Atrial fibrillation in patients with isolated, therapy resistant, chronic or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) or AF in combination with additional valvular and non-valvular cardiac pathology can be surgically treated by different techniques. Unipolar high frequency, cryotherapy and microwave energy is a curative approach for the treatment of the left atrium for AF. The postoperative mortality and morbidity rate is comparable to other cardiac surgery procedures. It is a technically less challenging procedure as compared to the MAZE procedure and can be applied using a minimally invasive approach. Alternative techniques such as new cryotechnologies, laser application and bipolar high frequency energy need to be evaluated for effectiveness and safety.
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