New major recommendations for the use of surgical ablation in treating atrial fibrillation have been issued by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons today in an effort to improve surgical outcomes and the quality of patient care.

The guidelines, which can be found online in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, discuss how surgical ablation as a treatment option for Afib has continued to develop and improve over the last 30 years. The guideline authors used study findings to conclude that surgical ablation is effective in reducing Afib and improving the quality of the patient’s life, recommending that it become a more prominent role in adult cardiac surgery.

“These guidelines represent nearly two years of effort by some of the nation’s leading experts in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation,” said guidelines co-author Vinay Badhwar, MD, Gordon F. Murray professor and chair of the West Virginia University Heart & Vascular Institute, in a statement to Cardiovascular Business. “This important document highlights the increasing global evidence on the safety and efficacy of surgical ablation for the treatment of a-fib.”

There is a need to develop better techniques for treating Afib because if it goes untreated, it doubles an individual’s risk of heart-related death and could lead to stroke. More than 2.7 million Americans currently have atrial fibrillation.

“It is recognized that surgical ablation impacts long-term outcomes with improvements in normal heart rhythm, quality of life, and stroke reduction,” Badhwar said. “Current evidence reveals that surgical ablation can be performed without significant impact to major complications or death.”

The guidelines recommend that physicians use a multidisciplinary heart team assessment, treatment planning and long-term follow to ensure the best patient outcome.

“These guidelines may help guide surgeons when faced with a challenging decision on the management of a-fib,” Badhwar said. “The guidelines represent an assimilation of the world’s literature; they do not supersede the final medical decision of the surgeon. It is important to remember that the ultimate choice of any therapy remains between the patient and their doctor.”