Follow up
Oral anticoagulation was resumed on the evening after the surgical procedure and was not discontinued during the endocardial procedure.
At discharge, patients received an ECG recorder (PM 100 Eumaco or Cardio B Gima) and were instructed to obtain a 30-s ECG once a day and a further ECG record in case of symptomatic palpitations. Information from internal loop recorders was available in 6 patients.
The follow-up visits were scheduled at 3, 6 and 12 months in our center. Visits consist of 12-lead ECG, 24-hour Holter, transthoracic echocardiography and physical examination. Oral anticoagulants were discontinued according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score after a minimum of 3 months. Antiarrhythmic therapy was reassessed at first follow up visit, and discontinued within 6 months of ablation in the absence of AF recurrences.
Functional New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and quality of life was assessed before surgery and at last follow-up (1-year) by administration the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) for quantitative analysis (www.euroqol.org).