Totally Endoscopic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

"The procedure is conducted in general anaesthesia. The right chest is entered with three working ports .~After a complete cycle of ablation creating a box lesion in the left atrium, conduction block is tested. A chest tube is placed through the most caudal port and the port incisions are closed. A Reveal loop recorder is then implanted subcutaneously. The patient is extubated and transferred to postoperative care."

Anti-arrhythmic protocol The control group is using a rate-control strategy. All patients keep their anti-arrhythmic/beta-blocker/digoxin medication during the entire follow-up. No attempts are made to rhythm-control the patients, unless subjective symptoms make it necessary.