2.5 Follow-up
After the ablation, no antiarrhythmic medications were prescribed. The patients underwent continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring for approximately 3 days (until discharge) after the ablation. They came to our cardiology clinic 1 month after the ablation. Subsequent follow-ups were performed every 3 months at the clinic. The follow-up visits included a clinical interview, ECG, blood examination, 24 hour Holter monitoring or portable ECG (2 week cardiac event recording), and echocardiography. Patients with palpitations or other chest symptoms underwent a portable ECG. Recurrence after the ablation was defined as AF/AT documented on the ECG or AF/AT continuing longer than 30 seconds on the Holter or portable ECG. AF/AT during the first 3 months after the ablation (blanking period) was considered as an ERAF and AF/AT of more than 3 months after the ablation was considered as an LRAF.