I: Clinical Result of Epicardial Pulmonary Vein Isolation (LAVIE) by Cryoablation as Concomitant Cardiac Operation to Treat Atrial Fibrillation.How should patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) who require cardiac operation be managed? We developed an epicardial technique (LAVIE) that uses cryoablation to isolate the left atrial posterior wall and pulmonary veins (PVs) and applied it clinically.LAVIE technique: Epicardial maze procedure was performed using a cryosystem CCS 200.Two kinds of cryoprobes were used simultaneously.A cardiopulmonary bypass was used.Both vena cavae were snared to reduce blood flow in the left atrium.A left atrial venting tube was also inserted to reduce the blood in the left atrium.From April 2001 to April 2009, 18 patients underwent LAVIE technique concomitant with non-valvular cardiac operation.The primary diseases were: coronary artery disease, acute aortic dissection, and aortic stenosis.Sustained sinus rhythm, including atrial-based paced rhythm was present in 77.8 % in LAVIE performed patients.