Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Epicardial and hybrid surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: 1-year follow-up outcomes of the EORP epicardial and hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation (EHAFA) registry
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 patients17 centres10 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
Methodological detailsinternational, multicentre, consecutive enrolment
- International
- Multicentre
- Consecutive enrolment
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.
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