2.4 | Follow-up
All patients were discharged with an antiarrhythmic medication and an oral anticoagulant. Antiarrhythmic medications were discontinued 3 months post-ablation if the patient remained free from atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence, while anticoagulant therapy was continued based on individual thromboembolic risk. Follow-up assessments were conducted at discharge, and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-procedure either via telephone or in the outpatient clinic. A 7-day Holter recording was performed at 3, 6, and 12 months after ablation. Recurrence was defined as any episode of atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting more than 30 seconds. The primary outcome of the observation was freedom from AF/AFL/AT recurrence with or without antiarrhythmic medications during follow-up after a single ablation. Adverse events were also monitored before discharge and throughout the follow-up period. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated for the assessment of silent cerebral lesions (SCLs). Subjects with documented SCLs will undergo prespecified neurologic assessment before discharge.
Redo ablation procedures were initiated upon documentation of persisting AF, AFL, or AT. During reablation, electroanatomical mapping was performed to assess the durability of the lesions.