Hybrid Atrial Fibrillation Procedure (IMAGE)
Caption
The hybrid procedure blocks the errant electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation from both the inside and outside of the heart. First, the surgeon performs a series of ablations, or burns, on the heart’s outer surface (red lines). On the outside, the burns surround the pulmonary veins, where the erratic signals that cause atrial fibrillation often originate. Then, the electrophysiologist uses catheters to perform ablations on the inner surface (blue lines) to further contain the signals and to test the integrity of the ablation lines. Finally, the surgeon removes the left atrial appendage (the small lobe circled in black on the left side of the heart), which is a common source of blood clots that cause strokes.
Credit
Adapted from Servier Medical Art
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