Navigating the Maze
20th Edition
November 14-15, 2025, Barcelona, Spain

Join this highly acclaimed academic program focused on the latest techniques and outcomes for atrial fibrillation management. After 19 successful editions and having gathered hundreds of arrhythmia physicians over the last decade, the Navigating the Maze 2025 on November 14 and 15 brings together the most recognized expert faculty to share in a highly interactive environment the latest advancements in the field of AF management.

In collaboration with

Logo EACTS White (European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery)

The agenda for Navigating the Maze 2025 will soon be available.

    14 November

    Surgical Concomitant AF

  • 08:30 - Innovations Redefining AF Treatment Today
    (Dipak Kotecha)
  • 09:00 - EACTS in Action: Empowering AF Treatment
    (Rafael Sádaba)
  • 09:15 - AF–Mitral Valve: The Interdependent Challenge
    (Volkmar Falk)
  • 10:15 - Learning From MAZE IV in Practice
  • 10:30 - Is the Box Lesion Strategy Sufficient?
    (Bart Maesen)
  • 10:45 - The Rise of Robotic Solutions in AF
    (Daniel Pereda)
  • 11:05 - The Effects of Surgical Ablation or LAA Closure on Cardiac Function
    (Olga Kislitsina)
  • 11:35 - The Pathophysiology and Different Treatments of Post-Ablation Peri-Mitral Atrial Flutter
    (James Cox)
  • 12:05 - Case-Based Roundtable
    (Manuel Castella)
  • 13:00 - Lunch

    Hybrid AF™ Therapies

  • 14:00 - Understanding the Boundaries of Catheter-Based AF Therapy
    (Jose Luis Merino)
  • 14:30 - The Power of Minimally Invasive AF Surgery
    (Nicolas Doll)
  • 14:50 - Hybrid Ablation: Epi-Endo Synergy in AF Treatment
    (Andreu Porta-Sánchez, Jorge Alcocer)
  • 15:10 - Innovations in Hybrid Ablation
    (Agnino Alfonso, Eduardo Celentano)
  • 16:00 - Expanding the Hybrid Ablation Frontier
    (Mark La Meir)
  • 16:20 - Case-Based Roundtable
    (Manuel Castella)
  • 16:50 - The Naked Surgeon: the Power of Data in Surgery
    (Samer Nashef)
  • 17:20 - Finish
  • 19:30 – 22:30 - Dinner

    15 November

    LAA Exclusion

  • 09:00 - Why the Left Atrial Appendage Matters in Cardiac Surgery
    (Richard Whitlock)
  • 09:20 - LAA: A Hidden Arrhythmogenic Substrate?
    (Syed Ahsan)
  • 09:50 - Filling the Gaps: How LAA Closure Complements Anticoagulation in AF Management
    (David Holmes)
  • 10:50 - Epicardial and Endocardial Closure Strategies: Matching Technique to Patient Need
    (Manuel Carnero Alcazar)
  • 11:10 - How to Build Up a Thoracoscopic LAA Closure Program
    (Stefano Branzoli)
  • 11:40 - Hands-On Video Session: AtriClip via Ministernotomy and Thoracoscopy – Avoiding Incomplete Closure
    (Bart van Putte)
  • 11:50 - Case-Based Roundtable
    (Manuel Castella)
  • 12:30 - Finish
View Agenda

Welcome to Navigating the Maze

We are delighted to present the 20th edition of Navigating the Maze, taking place once more in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15, 2025. This year’s program, led by an international, multidisciplinary faculty, will comprehensively cover surgical AF ablation management, Hybrid AF™ Therapies, and left atrial appendage exclusion.

We are honored to partner with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) for this educational event. This collaboration ensures an enriched program featuring expert insights on AF ablation techniques and outcomes delivered by distinguished international faculty.

This 1.5-day international AF program is designed for physicians with an interest in concomitant ablation and minimally invasive Hybrid AF™ Therapies. The event will cover patient selection, the latest clinical evidence, and detailed techniques and outcomes for catheter and surgical ablations. Renowned experts will demonstrate cardiac surgery and minimally invasive Hybrid AF procedures through live surgeries and interactive presentations.

Our goal is to create a platform for exchanging knowledge on AF management. The program includes case-based learning, sharing best practices, updates on current clinical evidence, procedural techniques, and discussions on new developments in clinical practice.

For those unable to attend in person, the sessions will be available for live streaming, with recordings accessible on-demand shortly after the event.

We look forward to welcoming you and fostering insightful discussions!

With kind regards,

Dr. Manuel Castellà

Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain

Program overview

The agenda for Navigating the Maze 2025 will soon be available.

    14 November

    Surgical Concomitant AF

  • 08:30 - Innovations Redefining AF Treatment Today (Dipak Kotecha)
  • 09:00 - EACTS in Action: Empowering AF Treatment (Rafael Sádaba)
  • 09:15 - AF–Mitral Valve: The Interdependent Challenge (Volkmar Falk)
  • 10:15 - Learning From MAZE IV in Practice
  • 10:30 - Is the Box Lesion Strategy Sufficient? (Bart Maesen)
  • 10:45 - The Rise of Robotic Solutions in AF (Daniel Pereda)
  • 11:05 - The Effects of Surgical Ablation or LAA Closure on Cardiac Function (Olga Kislitsina)
  • 11:35 - The Pathophysiology and Different Treatments of Post-Ablation Peri-Mitral Atrial Flutter (James Cox)
  • 12:05 - Case-Based Roundtable (Manuel Castella)
  • 13:00 - Lunch

    Hybrid AF™ Therapies

  • 14:00 - Understanding the Boundaries of Catheter-Based AF Therapy (Jose Luis Merino)
  • 14:30 - The Power of Minimally Invasive AF Surgery (Nicolas Doll)
  • 14:50 - Hybrid Ablation: Epi-Endo Synergy in AF Treatment (Andreu Porta-Sánchez, Jorge Alcocer)
  • 15:10 - Innovations in Hybrid Ablation (Agnino Alfonso, Eduardo Celentano)
  • 16:00 - Expanding the Hybrid Ablation Frontier (Mark La Meir)
  • 16:20 - Case-Based Roundtable (Manuel Castella)
  • 16:50 - The Naked Surgeon: the Power of Data in Surgery (Samer Nashef)
  • 17:20 - Finish
  • 19:30 – 22:30 - Dinner

    15 November

    LAA Exclusion

  • 09:00 - Why the Left Atrial Appendage Matters in Cardiac Surgery (Richard Whitlock)
  • 09:20 - LAA: A Hidden Arrhythmogenic Substrate? (Syed Ahsan)
  • 09:50 - Filling the Gaps: How LAA Closure Complements Anticoagulation in AF Management (David Holmes)
  • 10:50 - Epicardial and Endocardial Closure Strategies: Matching Technique to Patient Need (Manuel Carnero Alcazar)
  • 11:10 - How to Build Up a Thoracoscopic LAA Closure Program (Stefano Branzoli)
  • 11:40 - Hands-On Video Session: AtriClip via Ministernotomy and Thoracoscopy – Avoiding Incomplete Closure (Bart van Putte)
  • 11:50 - Case-Based Roundtable (Manuel Castella)
  • 12:30 - Finish
View Agenda

Countdown to event