Completely endoscopic microwave ablation of atrial fibrillation on the beating heart using bilateral thoracoscopy

The pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) has proven to be wholly inadequate. Although highly successful, the surgical approach is too invasive and has not been widely adopted. Progress has been made with breathtaking speed over the last decade toward the creation of an ablative surgical procedure that retains a high cure rate yet solves the problem of invasiveness. This chapter will describe a procedure that uses microwave energy delivered via a thin, long, and flexible catheter through endoscopic ports to treat AF. As energy delivery methods, surgical techniques, and assessment procedures continue to improve, treatments such as this one will hopefully attract the largest number of patients who suffer with this arrhythmia to seek a safe and effective cure.