Convergent Procedure: A New Approach to Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

The cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (Afib) is electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PV). In patients with non-paroxysmal Afib, PV isolation alone is insufficient and one needs to modify the atrial arrhythmogenic substrate. Afib ablation is now a fairly common procedure and mostly performed using a transvenous, endocardial approach with catheters. For patients with persistent Afib 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 Afib-treatment, however the approach involves some challenges that require specific attention from the medical specialities involved. It is a new way of working for both EPs and surgeons so the benefits and best ways of implementing this in clinical practice are still largely unknown.

Join a panel of international faculty as they discuss the clinical value of the convergent procedure as a treatment strategy for persistent atrial fibrillation ablation.

• How can it improve patient outcomes?
• What evidence base is available to support its use?
• How can it be implemented effectively in clinical practice?

This activity has been supported by an unrestricted educational grant from AtriCure Inc.

This programme is accredited by the European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC) for 1 hour of external CME credit(s). Each participant should claim only those hours of credit that have actually been spent in the educational activity. EBAC works according to the quality standards of the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), which is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). In compliance with EBAC/ EACCME guidelines, all speakers/chairpersons participating in this programme have disclosed or indicated potential conflicts of interest which might cause a bias in the presentations. The Organizing Committee/Course Director is responsible for ensuring that all potential conflicts of interest relevant to the event are declared to the audience prior to the CME activities.

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