Follow-up
After discharge from the hospital, the patients in the ablation group were followed in the outpatient clinic every month for the first 12 months, and every two or three months thereafter. Twelve lead electrocardiograms were performed every hospital visit. A 24-hour Holter monitoring was recorded three months after the procedure and every 12 months thereafter. The patients were advised to come to the hospital and undergo an additional electrocardiogram in the event of palpitations or dyspnea. The first three months after the ablation were designed as the blanking period. Recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias, which continued for >30 seconds after the blanking period, were defined as a recurrence of AF. The patients in the control group were also followed up in the outpatient clinic every one to three months with optimal medical therapy.