Follow up
All patients were discharged with an antiarrhythmic medication and an
oral anticoagulant (OAC). Antiarrhythmic drugs were stopped 3 months
after ablation if the patient had no recurrence of atrial
tachyarrhythmia, while OAC is prescribed according to the patient’s
thromboembolic risk.
Follow-up was conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure
through telephone or in the out-patient clinic. A 24-hour Holter
recording was performed at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 months. Symptom triggered or
opportunistic ECGs were also documented. Recurrence was defined by an
episode of atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting more than 30 seconds after a
3-month blanking period. The primary outcome of the observation is
freedom from AF/AT recurrence with or without anti-arrhythmic drugs
(AAD) after the 3-month blanking period during the 12-month follow-up
after single ablation.