Follow-up
After discharge from the hospital, the patients in the ablation group
were followed in the outpatient clinic every month for the first 12
months, and every two or three months thereafter. Twelve lead
electrocardiograms were performed every hospital visit. A 24-hour Holter
monitoring was recorded three months after the procedure and every 12
months thereafter. The patients were advised to come to the hospital and
undergo an additional electrocardiogram in the event of palpitations or
dyspnea. The first three months after the ablation were designed as the
blanking period. Recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias, which continued for
>30 seconds after the blanking period, were defined as a
recurrence of AF. The patients in the control group were also followed
up in the outpatient clinic every one to three months with optimal
medical therapy.