HighlightsThe development and implementation of video-assisted thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation ablation since 2005 by R. Wolf and colleagues have undergone a number of modifications for improvement and simplification. A study of the evolutionary development of thoracoscopic ablation of atrial fibrillation is necessary to optimize ablation recruitment and surgical technique for different forms of atrial fibrillation. AbstractThere is a variety of treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF): therapeutic, interventional and surgical. The effectiveness of these methods varies significantly depending on the form of AF. For a long time, surgery was considered the only highly effective treatment for AF. In modern arrhythmology, «Maze IV» and its modifications are considered only as a simultaneous procedure in cardiac surgery. The work of M. Haïssaguerre et al. has established that the main focus of catheter ablation (CA) in AF should be the pulmonary veins, but their isolation in non-paroxysmal AF is questionable. This discovery has stimulated the development of alternative treatment modalities for resistant AF. Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic epicardial ablation (TSA), which does not require sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia, has been increasingly preferred. TSA of AF is an alternative surgical treatment for isolated forms of AF on the working heart. This procedure may include: pulmonary vein ablation, posterior left atrial wall and pulmonary vein ablation and left atrial appendage exclusion, but its effectiveness varies considerably due to the heterogeneity of patients, surgical technique and follow-up period. The aim of this review is to provide data on the evolutionary development of thoracoscopic ablation of AF depending on the choice of surgical access, ablation line set and ablation device.

The aim of this work is to analyze the effectiveness of thoracoscopic ablation (TSA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) and to define the risk factors for the return of atrial tachyarrhythmias after TSA in the long-term follow-up period.Methods. From January 2019 to December 2021, 150 patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (persistent 29.3% monitoring at the control points of the study, the results of which evaluated the effectiveness of the procedure.Results. The overall efficiency of TSA in the long-term follow-up period was 72.5%. After off-antiarrhythmic drugs, freedom from any atrial tachyarrhythmias was 79.2%, 70.5% and 68.9% after 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively. Additional catheter ablations after 3 months increase the effectiveness of the procedure to 82.9%. Important risk factors for the return of arrhythmia after TSA should be considered the patient’s age, duration of AF, previous catheter ablations and the left atria diameter of more 40 mm.Conclusion. The hybrid approach significantly improves the effectiveness of TSA for patients with non-paroxysmal forms of AF. The results obtained require further study of this problem in order to improve the quality of TSA and determine the optimal set of ablation lines, considering the risk factors for the return of arrhythmia.

Research objective: establish the impact of Left Atrium Volume Index (LAVI) on on effectiveness of Thoracoscopic Ablation (TSA) in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and define the risk factors for manifestation of supraventricular arrhythmias in the long-term follow-up resultsMethods. Prospective cohort study of 121 patients with AF (from 2018 to 2021) who performed TSA. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with increased LAVI (group I), patients with normal LAVI less than 34 ml/m2 (group II).Results. According to echocardiography, the mean LAVI was 45.48 ± 9.3 ml/m2 and 28.59 ± 4.13 ml/m2 in groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.012). The mean value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) according to Teicholz in group I was 61.62 ± 7.041%, in group II 63.57 ± 6.16% (p = 0.8). Spearman's сorrelation analysis showed the relation-ship between LAVI and LVEF before surgery and in the long-term follow-up period, that is agreed with world literature data about contribution left atrial (LA) to left ventricular (LV) function. According to our study, only LAVI < 34 ml/m2 is a risk factor for arrhythmia after TSA. Effectiveness TSA in I group was 77.8%, that is lower than the II group – 88.9%. 3 months after TSA, 20 (17%) patients were required catheter ablations (CA), mainly in I group.Conclusions. Research results showed that an increase in LAVI significantly reduces the effectiveness of TSA in the long-term period by 11.1% compared with LAVI < 34 ml/m2. That are conform with other data of previously submitted works.

Highlights. Stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation is extremely important and difficult. Lifelong anticoagulant therapy is not always an effective way of preventing thrombosis in the left atrial appendage in this group of patients. In this regard, one of the most urgent problems of modern surgical arrhythmology and cardiac surgery is the search for new open and minimally invasive surgical methods of excluding the left atrial appendage from the blood flow.Aim. To investigate the safety and efficacy of using the left atrial appendage stapler for video-guided thoracoscopic ablation (TSA) of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods. The retrospective, single-center study included 100 patients with non-valvular AF who underwent video-guided thoracoscopic ablation of AF with single-stage left atrial appendage exclusion using an Endo GIA stapler (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA).Results. The mean age of the patients was 56,2±8,8 years, the majority of the patients (73 patients, 73%) were male. Patients with persistent 50 (50%) AF and longstanding AF 50 (50%) were included in the study. The duration of atrial fibrillation was 4 (1,7–7) years. The median CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 2 (1–1,5) and 1 (0-1), respectively. The mean anticoagulation therapy-to-ablation time was 4,2±1,9 years. Thirty-eight (38%) patients were prescribed warfarin preoperatively. The completeness of left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion was confirmed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. The average length of the staple lines was 48 (35–75). A single left atrial appendage exclusion was performed using a 60 mm staples. In 12 (12%) patients, stapler exclusions were performed using two 45 mm staples due to insufficient staple length. None of the patients had ruptures, punctures along the staple lines or rupture of the surrounding epicardial tissue. Anticoagulant therapy was discontinued 6 months after TSA in 70 (70%) patients with sustained sinus rhythm observed on 24-h Holter Monitoring, satisfactory CHA2DS2-VASc scores and after confirmation of absence of left atrial thrombus by transesophageal echocardiography and contrast-enhanced MSCT. No strokes were reported within 1,2±0,7 years after discontinuing anticoagulation therapy.Conclusion. Exclusion of LAA using a stapler for TSA is a highly effective and safe technique for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation compared to alternative methods of excluding the LAA from the systemic blood flow.

Cholangioblastic variant of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a rare, extremely malignant liver tumor. Currently, only six clinical cases have been described worldwide. Following the bibliographic research, the authors of the paper introduced main features of the tumor, methods of its diagnosis and treatment. A clinical observation of a patient with cholangioblastic variant of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is presented. The course of the disease was complicated by tumor thrombosis of the left hepatic and inferior vena cava with thrombus flotation in the right atrium. The paper describes the stages of the disease diagnosis and surgical treatment of the patient, providing insight into the patient surveillance in such cases. Given the low incidence of such neoplasms, each clinical case reported in the scientific literature is of great value and practical interest.