Convergent Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation: Advanced Understanding and Practical Discussion

Published: 03 July 2020

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    Yuri Blaauw, Syed Ahsan, Felix Yang, Riyaz Kaba
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Overview

This virtual symposium combines presentations from leading practitioners, discussions, and procedural videos to look at the latest data, patient selection, fundamentals of the procedure and the set-up of a convergent AF programme.

The cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) is electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PV). In patients with non-paroxysmal AF, PV isolation alone is insufficient and one needs to modify the atrial arrhythmogenic substrate. AF ablation is now a common procedure and mostly performed using a transvenous, endocardial approach with catheters. For patients with persistent AF however, this procedure is not sufficient.

There is a growing movement towards a convergent procedure management strategy, used alongside standard catheterisation techniques to optimise patient outcomes. More and more research suggests that an integrated approach involving multidisciplinary teams (of electrophysiologists and surgeons) may lead to improved success rates and increased patient satisfaction.

Convergent procedure is a promising therapy for patients’ refractory to standard AF treatment, however the approach involves some challenges that require specific attention from the medical specialities involved. Whilst a relatively new way of working for both EPs and surgeons, the benefits and best ways of implementing this in clinical practice are still largely unknown.

 

EBAC Accreditation

This programme was funded by an unrestricted educational grant from AtriCure.

Learning objectives

  • Discuss the Need for Optimal Approaches to Atrial Ablation and Identify Patients for the Convergent Procedure
  • Describe the Convergent Procedure and the Role of Electrophysiologist and Surgeon
  • Discuss Current Clinical Understanding of the Convergent Procedure Including Emerging Data and the Role of the Left Atrial Appendage in Ablation 

More from this programme

Part 1

Introduction

Part 2

Data and Patient Selection

Part 3

Fundamentals of the Procedure

Part 4

How to Set-up a Convergent AF Ablation Programme

Faculty Biographies

Yuri Blaauw

Yuri Blaauw

University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Dr Yuri Blaauw is an Electrophysiologist at the University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

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Syed Ahsan

Syed Ahsan

Dr Syed Ahsan is a Consultant Cardiologist, Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, UK

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Felix Yang

Felix Yang

Associate Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology

Dr Felix Yang, MD, FACC, FHRS, CCDS is Associate Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Director of the Lead Extraction Service at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

Dr Yang completed his medical school, internship and residency training at Cornell (NY Presbyterian Hospital). Dr Yang has published numerous articles in leading journals and presented his research at professional societies. He is a member of several professional organizations and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. He is also a Certified Cardiac Device Specialist as designated by the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners.

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Riyaz Kaba

Riyaz Kaba

Consultant Cardiologist, St George's Hospital, London, UK

Dr Riyaz Kaba is Consultant Cardiologist, St George's Hospital, London, UK. He is part of the Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George’s, University of London and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Cardiology, Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey, Surrey, UK

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