We report a case with complete atrioventricular block (AVB) present both during sinus rhythm and with atrial fibrillation (AF). He had declined pacemaker placement and opted for ablation for the symptomatic AF. He underwent staged hybrid approach with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical maze (VATS) followed by endocardial ablation. VATS included ganglionic plexi cauterization. One month after...

Since cases were first reported in 1994, catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation has undergone rapid development and expansion. The procedure began as an attempt to recreate the Maze III operation with a catheter technique. Understanding the contribution of the pulmonary veins to the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation led to dramatic changes in procedural technique. The segmenta...

BACKGROUND Although the Cox-Maze III procedure is effective for treating permanent atrial fibrillation (AF), its high complexity limits its use. The Saline-Irrigated Cooled-tip Radiofrequency Ablation (SICTRA) System is an alternative source of energy used to ablate AF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the SICTRA for the treatment of permanent AF in patients with rheum...

There is a clear link between dysregulation of glutamatergic signaling and mood disorders. Genetic variants in the glutamate receptor gene GRIK4, which encodes the kainate receptor subunit GluK4, alter the susceptibility for depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Here we demonstrate that Grik4(-/-) mice have reduced anxiety and an antidepressant-like phenotype. In the elevated zero-maz...

The function of adult neurogenesis in the rodent brain remains unclear. Ablation of adult born neurons has yielded conflicting results about emotional and cognitive impairments. One hypothesis is that adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus enables spatial pattern separation, allowing animals to distinguish between similar stimuli. We investigated whether spatial pattern separation and other puta...

Over the last years, major advances have been made in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Early attempts to reproduce the catheter maze procedure, although barely effective, led to the observation that ectopic foci often originating in the pulmonary veins triggered paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. This, in turn, has heralded the development of focal ablation and, later on, pulmonary v...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is now commonly treated at the time of valvular heart surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting. Surgical ablation of AF, which is predicated upon the Maze procedure, includes creation of lines of conduction block and excision of the left atrial appendage. A full bi-atrial lesion set is associated with success in 80% to 95% of patients and virtually eliminates the risk...

The study aim was to compare maze outcomes using microwave ablation or cryoablation in patients with mitral disease and atrial fibrillation (AF). Between 1999 and 2005, 340 patients underwent mitral valve surgery and concomitant maze procedure involving either microwave ablation (n=96, MW group) or cryoablation (n=244, Cryo group). Mean age at operation was 50.0±12.5 yr. Follow-up period was 46...

BACKGROUND We evaluated the efficacy of Cox-maze IV procedure using bipolar irrigated radiofrequency ablation and cryothermy in chronic atrial fibrillation associated with valvular heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS From November 2005 to June 2009, ninety four patients have undergone valvular heart surgery with Cox-maze IV procedure. Preoperative duration of atrial fibrillation was 7.6±6.5 y...

OBJECTIVE The appearance of atrial fibrillation is associated with significant clinical deterioration in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; therefore, maintenance of sinus rhythm is desirable. Guidelines and most articles have reported the results of catheter ablation and pharmacologic atrial fibrillation treatment; nevertheless, data regarding concomitant procedures during ...