Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a previous stroke are often at a high risk of recurrent stroke and bleeding. Minimally invasive approaches for surgical treatment have been advocated as a treatment option for stand-alone AF. This study will investigate the clinical outcomes after minimally invasive surgical ablation of both paroxysmal and persistent/longstanding persistent AF. Neurological safety will be assessed by cerebral magnetic resonance, neuropsychological examination and periprocedural transcranial Doppler measurement.
Minimally invasive approaches for surgical treatment have been advocated as a treatment option for stand-alone atrial fibrillation (AF). This study will investigate the clinical outcomes after minimally invasive surgical ablation of both paroxysmal and persistent/longstanding persistent AF.