October 26, 2026 St. Michael’s Hospital completes Canada’s first robotic hybrid procedure for atrial fibrillation St. Michael’s Hospital has become the first in Canada to[...]

St. Michael's Hospital has become the first in Canada to perform a robotic hybrid ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), marking a major milestone in the hospital's leadership in minimally invasive and robotic cardiac care.

"This achievement represents significant progress for many patients," says Dr. Gianluigi Bisleri, Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at St. Michael's Hospital, who performed the procedure.

"It's a reflection of work we've been doing for years to build a program where surgeons, electrophysiologists work together to tackle some of the most challenging heart rhythm disorders."

Learn more about the procedure on Global News

AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting hundreds of thousands of Canadians by causing the upper chambers of the heart to beat irregularly. It can lead to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath and heart palpitations, and is linked to heart failure, repetitive hospital visits, and an increased risk of stroke.

Many patients with AF respond well to medications or standard catheter ablation procedures, which are done by inserting a thin flexible catheter through a large blood vessel, the femoral vein, in the groin area. For those with more persistent AF, usual treatment is typically less successful and recent clinical evidence has suggested that procedures from both inside and outside the heart could be more effective in this specific group of patients.

Rather than relying solely on either surgery or catheter-based treatment, the hybrid model combines both procedures, performed a few months apart. Cardiac surgeons treat abnormal electrical pathways from the outside of the heart using minimally invasive techniques, while electrophysiologists map and treat arrhythmias from inside the heart using a catheter.

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Studies show that this hybrid treatment can improve long-term rhythm outcomes in patients with persistent AF compared with catheter ablation alone. As a result, hybrid approaches have become increasingly common. Surgeons contribute expertise in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and heart anatomy, while the electrophysiology team brings advanced mapping technologies and deep knowledge of the electrical mechanisms that drive arrhythmias.

Bisleri spent more than two decades working in surgical and hybrid approaches to atrial fibrillation. His experience has helped shape the development of the hospital's AF program and its focus on minimally invasive treatment strategies.

Dr. Paul Angaran, Cardiac Electrophysiologist, and Director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia program at St. Michael's Hospital plays an integral role.

"We've spent years refining a collaborative, multidisciplinary model of care to improve care for patients," says Angaran. "This Canadian-first procedure is an example of what we've been able to accomplish."

Bringing robotics into AF treatment

Over the past several years, St. Michael's Hospital has broadened its use of minimally invasive and robotic approaches across increasingly complex cardiac procedures. Bisleri and Angaran saw an opportunity to leverage that growth to expand care for AF patients.

For the first time, the surgical component of the hybrid procedure used a robotic platform, with technology that allowed Bisleri to operate through very small incisions while benefitting from enhanced visualization, increased precision and greater dexterity while allowing for more extensive access to the heart.

More broadly, this hybrid/team approach highlights a vision for the future of cardiac care: one in which specialists work together, advanced technology supports clinical expertise, and patients benefit from treatments that are both sophisticated and less invasive.

Most importantly, it demonstrates how bringing together surgery, electrophysiology and robotic technology can create new possibilities for patients facing some of the most difficult forms of atrial fibrillation.

Canada's first robotic ablation patient is one step closer to relief

For nearly 30 years, Jon Davies has lived with atrial fibrillation, managing the symptoms and uncertainty that can come with a chronic heart rhythm disorder. After learning about the specialized dual ablation approach through a TLN TV YouTube video interview featuring Bisleri, Davies got a referral from his physician and made the trek to St. Michael's Hospital from Alberta to become the first patient in Canada to undergo the innovative procedure robotically.

"When I first learned about this combined procedure, I felt hopeful for the first time in a long while." says Davies. "Being the first patient in Canada to receive this ablation robotically is incredible, but what matters most to me is the possibility of feeling better and getting back to doing more of the things I enjoy."

Following the surgery, Davies recovered quickly and returned home within days. He is now awaiting the second stage of his treatment, a catheter ablation with Dr. Angaran, and is optimistic the procedure will significantly improve his quality of life.