Postablation Follow-Up
After the ablation procedures, all patients were discharged without
antiarrhythmic drugs, and were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
and then every 6 months thereafter until 24 months. At each hospital
visit, patient symptoms and a 12-lead ECG were recorded. If patients
reported symptoms, we asked them to undergo ECG with a portable
electrocardiographic monitor (HCG-901; OMRON, Kyoto, Japan) at least
twice a day and at any time they experienced palpitations during the
follow-up period. Twenty-four-hour Holter ECG was performed at 1, 3, 6,
12, 18, and 24 months post-procedure. Recurrence of atrial
tachyarrhythmia was defined as any documented atrial tachyarrhythmia (AF
or atrial tachycardia [AT]) lasting > 30 seconds on
either device. ER was defined as any atrial tachyarrhythmia occurring
during the first 3 months post-AF ablation and LR was defined as atrial
tachyarrhythmias occurring after the first 3 months post-AF ablation.