Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) can happen to anyone. AFib is an irregular heartbeat or a condition in which the heart muscles fail to contract in a strong, rhythmic way. When a heart is in AFib, it may not be pumping enough oxygen-rich blood out to the body. People who have AFib with no symptoms have an increased risk of stroke. Hybrid ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for persistent AFib that combines surgical and catheter-based techniques. Summit Health’s Dr. Robert Altman, Director of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, and Dr. Jonathan Steinberg, Director of the Arrhythmia Center, brought the procedure to Hackensack University Medical Center, the only facility in the state to offer the innovative technique. The Summit Health physicians, along with a patient who has had successful outcomes from hybrid ablation, spoke to NJTV about how the procedure could be a game-changer for individuals with AFib, particularly in patients who are difficult to treat.