Canadian robotic procedure offers new hope for hard-to-treat AFib

A new Canadian two-part robotic procedure combining minimally invasive surgery with catheter ablation could significantly improve treatment for atrial fibrillation, the world's most common irregular heart rhythm. The approach aims to help patients for whom standard treatments fail. Developed by Drs. Paul Angaran and Gianluigi Bisleri at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, the technique first uses robotic surgery to create scars on the heart's exterior, followed by a catheter ablation inside. This Canadian-first method allows doctors to treat broader areas and offers greater precision than traditional burning or freezing techniques. For long-standing persistent AFib, the long-term success rate could reach 70 to 80 percent. Edmonton patient Jon Davies, whose enlarged heart made him ineligible for standard surgery, underwent the first robotic stage in September and awaits the second procedure.