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Case Reports

Minimally Invasive Epicardial Left Atrial Ablation and Appendectomy for Refractory Atrial Tachycardia

^a Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
^b Atrial Arrhythmia Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Accepted for publication April 3, 2008.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Zenati, Cardiac Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Suite C-700, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Email: zenatim{at}upmc.edu).

Surgical removal or epicardial radiofrequency ablation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is occasionally required when endocardial ablations fail. We report a modified minimally invasive surgical approach for elimination of recurrent atrial arrhythmias arising from the LAA, including both radiofrequency ablation and appendectomy. Ablation of the LAA base was performed using the Medtronic Cardioblate bipolar radiofrequency device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN), and left atrial appendectomy was then completed using the EndoGIA stapling system (US Surgical, Norwalk, CT). This procedure successfully isolated and removed the tachycardia focus, and normal sinus rhythm was restored. Elimination of LAA arrhythmias using a combination of epicardial radiofrequency ablation and appendectomy ensures electrical isolation while minimizing surgical invasiveness.