Follow-up
All patients were followed up by cardiologists at the outpatient
department in Fujita Health University at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
after ablation. All patients were asked about their symptoms and
underwent a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Holter ECG monitoring was
performed at 6 and 12 months follow-up. In case of AF recurrence within
a 3-month blanking period, an anti-arrhythmic drug was prescribed and
discontinued after the blanking period. AF recurrence was defined as any
atrial tachy-arrhythmias lasting more than 30 seconds and occurring
after the blanking period. The AF-free survival rates at more than six
months were compared between FTI and TAI protocols.