Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: The Time Is Now

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic arrhythmia in the United States and is associated with high morbidity rates and significant healthcare costs. Although medical therapy for AF modestly reduces complications, cardiac surgery continues to have an important role in the treatment of AF and is constantly evolving. Cardiothoracic surgeons are uniquely positioned to offer effective operations to patients with lone AF, in addition to those undergoing concomitant elective cardiac surgery. This review discusses (1) the burden of AF, (2) classification and electrophysiology of AF, (3) surgical techniques and outcomes, and (4) future directions in surgical therapy.