Follow-up
All patients were followed-up in the outpatient clinic at 1, 3, 6, 9,
and 12 months after discharge. When the patients visited the outpatient
clinic, a physical examination, 12-lead ECG, and review of the patients’
symptoms were performed. All patients were encouraged to inform their
physician of their physical status and whether they had any symptoms
that were suggestive of an atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence. If any
atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrences were suspected, the cardiac rhythm
was assessed using a 12-lead ECG. A Holter ECG examination was performed
at 3 and 12 months after the VGLA procedure. Atrial tachyarrhythmia
recurrence was defined as any sustained AF or atrial tachycardia (AT)
lasting for ˃ 30 seconds, which appeared after the blanking period (˃ 90
days after the catheter ablation).