New routes in invasive cardiology are being opened by an innovative operation performed for the first time at the Henry Dunant Hospital Center, dealing with arrhythmia and its main complications at the same surgical time.

It is a combined operation of atrial fibrillation ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion, which can now be treated in parallel and not in two different operations. The double operation at the same time was performed by Mr. Georgios Andrikopoulos, director of the First Cardiology Clinic / Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing of the Henry Dunant Hospital Center. 

The above operations are both technically demanding and require high experience for their safe and effective implementation. Ablation treats or improves atrial fibrillation and left atrial appendage occlusion prevents the strokes caused by atrial fibrillation.

Although each one is performed separately in a significant number of centers in our country, it is the first time that they are performed at the same time and in a single operation that lasted less than two hours.

As Mr. Andrikopoulos explains, the advantages of this approach, especially for patients who have atrial fibrillation and are unable to receive anticoagulation therapy, are many. A single hospitalization for less than 24 hours, less risk, fewer complications, holistic treatment of both the arrhythmia and the main complication it causes and, finally, saving of human and financial resources.