Follow-up after the procedure
All patients were given follow-up in the outpatient clinic at 1, 3, 6,
9, and 12 months after the procedure and every 6 months thereafter.
Atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) recurrence was evaluated according to
patient symptoms, electrocardiographic recordings, and 24-h ambulatory
monitoring (3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the ablation and every 6 months
thereafter). Patients with palpitations were encouraged to use portable
electrocardiographic monitoring (HCG-801R; Omron, Kyoto, Japan).
Recurrence was defined as recurrent symptoms and/or detection of ATAs
using aforementioned modalities or data provided by cardiac implantable
electrical devices (lasting >30 s) after a 2-month blanking
period from the ablation procedure without any anti-arrhythmic drugs
(AADs). If AAD was administered for patient after the procedure, it was
considered as “ATA recurrence.”