Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Epicardial and hybrid surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: 1-year follow-up outcomes of the EORP epicardial and hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation (EHAFA) registry
- Prospective observational registry
- international
- multicentre
- consecutive enrolment
Authors' conclusion
This international registry revealed good rhythm control efficacy for epicardial and hybrid AF ablation in patients with advanced AF, leading to improvement in AF-related symptoms. However, a certain associated complication rate needs to be considered.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing stand-alone minimally invasive epicardial or hybrid ablation for all types of atrial fibrillation (AF), 17 centres in 10 countries, 2016–2018
- Participants
- 468 patients · 17 centres · 10 countries
- Exposure
- Epicardial vs Hybrid
- Epicardialn = 220
- Hybridn = 244
- Outcome
- Freedom from atrial arrhythmias >30 s with and without antiarrhythmic drugs
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Freedom from atrial arrhythmias >30 s
With antiarrhythmic drug usage (n = 279/353)
79%
Without antiarrhythmic drug usage (n = 223/351)
64%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
EHRA class I · follow-up vs preoperative
- At follow-up (n = 233/325)
- 72%
- Preoperatively (n = 14/464)
- 3%
Safety
In-hospital major complications
- Overall major complication rate (n = 38/464)
- 8.2%
Original publication
Epicardial and hybrid surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: 1-year follow-up outcomes of the EORP EHAFA registry. Europace. Published 19 September 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euaf196
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it