Methods of treating a cardiac arrhythmia by thoracoscopic production of a Cox maze III lesion set

1. A method of treating a subject for cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising thoracoscopically producing a Cox maze III set of lesions in a manner sufficient to treat the subject for the cardiac arrhythmia, wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions comprises a right pulmonary vein encircling ablation line, a left pulmonary vein encircling ablation line, a superior connecting ablation line connecting the right and left pulmonary vein encircling lines, and an inferior connecting ablation line connecting the right and left pulmonary vein encircling lines.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein thoracoscopically producing comprises making a thoracoscopic body opening that measures no more than 12 millimeters in greatest dimension.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method comprises intraoperative testing to confirm the presence of a lesion.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one lesion comprises a transmural lesion.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises thoracoscopically producing a lesion in a ganglionic plexus.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein thoracoscopically producing comprises making bilateral thoracoscopic body openings.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the bilateral thoracoscopic body openings comprise four thoracoscopic body openings on each side.

8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the thoracoscopic body opening is an opening in a second intercostal space.

9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the thoracoscopic body opening is an opening in a third intercostal space medial to the anterior axillary line.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions further comprises an ablation line connecting the superior connecting ablation line to the base of the left atrial appendage.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions further comprises a left atrial appendectomy.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions further comprises an ablation line connecting the superior connecting ablation line to the fibrous trigone.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions further comprises an ablation line extending from the inferior connecting ablation line to the coronary sinus.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions further comprises an ablation line in the posterolateral wall of the right atrium connecting the superior vena cava to the inferior vena cava.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions further comprises an ablation line from the right pulmonary vein encircling ablation line to the posterolateral wall of the right atrium.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Cox maze III set of lesions further comprises focal ablation of a complex fractionated atrial electrogram.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein thoracoscopically producing comprises contacting cardiac tissue with an ablation device.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is a clamping device.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is an elongated cylindrical device.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is a bipolar radiofrequency device.

21. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is a laser energy device.

22. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is a microwave energy device.

23. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is a thermal energy device.

24. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is an ultrasound device.

25. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the ablation device is a cryoablation device.

26. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cardiac arrhythmia comprises atrial fibrillation.