Atrial fibrillation, as the most prevalent arrhythmia, has more impact on morbidity and mortality than any other rhythm disorder. It is often concomitant with structural heart diseases like coronary artery disease. The worst complication of atrial fibrillation is stroke, but the double or triple antithrombotic therapy especially in fragile and elderly patients is associated with significant risk of bleeding. The left atrial appendage occlusion may reduse both the risk of stroke and drug intake. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first description of a simultaneous totally thoracoscopic 3D augmented coronary artery bypass grafting and left atrial appendage occlusion.
© The Author 2016. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.