Post-procedural Follow up
After discharge, all patients underwent a 24-hour Holter monitoring
every three months for one year and every six months thereafter.
Patients were advised to return to our hospital or nearby clinics to
record a 12-lead electrocardiogram when patients experienced symptoms
suggestive of AF recurrence. Otherwise, patients were offered to undergo
additional 24-hour Holter monitoring or patient-driven event monitor
(HCG-801, Omron Healthcare Co., Kyoto, Japan) according to the duration
and frequency of the symptoms. In patients with a cardiac implantable
electronic device, AF recurrence was also monitored with the device. AF
recurrence was defined as the appearance of sustained AF or atrial
tachycardia (AT) lasting more than 30 seconds. The first three months
after the procedure was the blanking period.