Objective: Transmural and contiguous ablations and a comprehensive lesion pattern are difficult to create from the surface of a beating heart but are critical to the successful treatment of persistent, isolated atrial fibrillation. A codisciplinary simultaneous epicardial (surgical) and endocardial (catheter) procedure (Convergent procedure) addresses these issues.
Methods: Patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation who failed medical treatment were evaluated.