Key result
Combined RFA and LAAO is safe and feasible in persistent AF with dextrocardia.
Why the study?
No cases have been reported of patients with atrial fibrillation and dextrocardia undergoing combined radiofrequency ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion, making this surgery particularly challenging.
Case Report (n=1)
Combined radiofrequency ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion is feasible and safe in a patient with dextrocardia and atrial fibrillation.
May support combined ablation and LAAO in dextrocardia; leaves open generalizability and requires prospective validation.
Background: Dextrocardia is a rare congenital condition, affecting approximately 1 in 10,000-12,000 individuals. When combined with atrial fibrillation (AF), it becomes even rarer. "One-stop" surgery, including combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO), has become a common clinical treatment for patients with AF who develop cerebral infarction despite regular oral anticoagulants. To date, no cases have been reported of patients with AF and dextrocardia undergoing the "one-stop" procedure, making this surgery particularly challenging. Case presentation: An 85-year-old dextrocardia male with total visceral inversion and persistent AF developed cerebral infarction despite regular oral anticoagulation therapy. He was referred to our hospital for RFA of AF and LAAO. The procedure was successfully performed using a three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping system (Carto3, Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA), intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), and x-ray, with no complications. Conclusion: This is the first reported case of a "one-stop" surgery for dextrocardia with AF. This procedure is safe and feasible with the assistance of advanced technologies such as ICE and the VIZIGO bidirectional adjustable bent sheath.
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Zhang et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Atrial fibrillation and dextrocardia (n=1). Combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) was evaluated on Procedural success and complications. Combined radiofrequency ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion was successfully performed with no complications in an 85-year-old male with dextrocardia and persistent atrial fibrillation.
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