Second chance for a totally thoracoscopic video-assisted pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation.

Driessen, Antoine H G; Krul, Sébastien P J; de Mol, Bas A J M; de Groot, Joris R · Ann Thorac Surg · 2012

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Thoracoscopic surgery for atrial fibrillation (AF) is an attractive and emerging treatment modality. However, when a bleeding occurs access for hemostasis is limited. Therefore, a sternotomy might be necessary to stop the bleeding and continue the operation. We report 2 patients with a periprocedural bleeding in whom sternotomy could be prevented by tamponading the bleeding, interrupting the operation and resuming 3 weeks later. Our cases show that sternotomies can be prevented and that there is a second chance for thoracoscopic surgery for AF.

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