Follow-up after the ablation
Patients were followed up periodically in an outpatient clinic. They
were evaluated for episodes of AF recurrence or atrial tachycardia (AT)
based on regular 12-lead electrocardiograms at 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13
months after the ablation. An event recording
(Spiderflash-TTM; Japan Lifeline, Tokyo, Japan) was
performed at 3, 6, and 12 months after the ablation. Patients were also
periodically followed up in our institute or clinics. AF lasting
>30 s on these recordings after a 3-month blanking period
was evaluated as a recurrence. AADs were resumed after the ablation and
discontinued if recurrent AF or AT was not documented by an event
recording obtained at 3 months after the ablation. Patients who
originally had not taken AADs were followed up without taking AADs. AADs
were commenced, or changed to amiodarone or bepridil, if recurrent AF or
AT was documented on these recordings. The subsequent ablation process
proceeded if AF or AT was refractory to medical therapies. In the next
session, bidirectional MI block was confirmed by differential pacing
maneuver as well as the first ablation session.