Video-assisted thoracoscopic epicardial ablation of left pulmonary veins for lone permanent atrial fibrillation

Permanent atrial fibrillation necessitating oral anticoagulation may lead to deleterious consequences in patients with severe comorbidity factors. We present the case of a 68-year-old female patient with a lone permanent atrial fibrillation disclosed five years earlier, necessitating anticoagulation with coumadin and treated for a lymphoma by chemotherapy. Due to hematological consequences resulting from chemotherapy and oral anticoagulation, the patient presented with regular hemothorax and anemia. The need to suppress oral anticoagulation became obvious and the decision to treat the atrial fibrillation was discussed through a video-assisted thoracoscopic radiofrequency epicardial isolation of pulmonary veins.