Follow up
Patients in the VOLCANO trial were followed for 12 months. After
this
protocol period, follow up was continued for 1 years or more (≥ 2 years
after the index ablation procedure), usually every 3 months. Routine
electrocardiograms (ECGs) were conducted at each outpatient visit. When
patients experienced symptoms suggestive of an arrhythmia, surface ECG,
ambulatory ECG, and/or cardiac event recording were also conducted at
the discretion of the attending physician. AF or atrial tachycardia (AT)
recurrence was defined as the occurrence of one of the following events:
(1) AF/AT indicated on a routine or symptom-triggered ECG during an
outpatient visit; or (2) AF/AT of at least 30-s duration on ambulatory
ECG monitoring. AF/AT episodes during the 3 months after the initial or
repeat ablation were not included in the recurrence events (blanking
period). No AADs were prescribed after the ablation procedure unless
AF/AT recurrence was observed.