The Lead Episode 31: Efficacy and Safety of Hybrid Epicardial and Endocardial Ablation versus Endocardial Ablation in Patients with Persistent and Longstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation-The Lead Episode 31 Speaker Information

The Lead Episode 31 Speaker Information

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The article being discussed is "Efficacy and safety of hybrid epicardial and endocardial ablation versus endocardial ablation in patients with persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation: a randomised, controlled trial". The study was published in The Lancet. The hosts for the discussion are William H. Sauer, MD, FHRS, CCDS from Brigham and Women's Hospital. The contributors are Thomas Tadros, MD, MPH and Ashraf Sabe, MD, also from Brigham and Women's Hospital. <br /><br />The study compares the efficacy and safety of hybrid epicardial and endocardial ablation versus endocardial ablation in patients with persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disorder that can lead to adverse health outcomes. Ablation is a treatment option that involves destroying the areas in the heart causing abnormal electrical signals. <br /><br />The randomized, controlled trial evaluated 109 patients and compared the outcomes between the two treatment approaches. The hybrid ablation involves a combination of epicardial and endocardial ablation techniques. The endocardial approach involves ablating the inside of the heart, while the epicardial approach targets the outside of the heart. <br /><br />The study found that the hybrid ablation approach resulted in a higher rate of freedom from atrial fibrillation compared to endocardial ablation alone. The hybrid approach also demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of reducing atrial fibrillation burden and improving quality of life for patients. <br /><br />Furthermore, the hybrid ablation was reported to be safe and associated with a low rate of complications. The study concludes that the hybrid approach may be a preferable treatment option for patients with persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. <br /><br />The discussion highlights the potential benefits and challenges of the hybrid ablation approach and emphasizes the importance of individualizing treatment based on patient characteristics and preferences. The hosts and contributors provide their insights and experiences with treating atrial fibrillation and discuss the implications of the study findings for clinical practice.

Keywords

Efficacy and safety

hybrid epicardial and endocardial ablation

endocardial ablation

persistent atrial fibrillation

longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation

randomised controlled trial

The Lancet

William H. Sauer

Thomas Tadros

Ashraf Sabe