Clinical Follow-up
All patients were observed in the hospital for a minimum of one-night
post-ablation. Routine
follow-up (history, exam, and electrocardiography or Holter) was
performed to detect clinically
relevant recurrence of arrhythmia, in a manner consistent with the AF
Expert Consensus
Statement (1). All patients were seen at
the outpatient clinic or by a local cardiologist at
3, 6, and 12 months, and additionally, if prompted by symptoms. Event
monitors were arranged
for patients in whom symptoms suggestive of recurrence developed in the
post-blanking phase of
follow-up. If present at the time of ablation, antiarrhythmic drug
therapy was discontinued at the
3-month follow-up visit. One-year outcomes were assessed in all patients
via clinic follow-up,
electronic health record review, or phone interview.