Anticoagulation during ablation
Intraablation anticoagulation was performed on the basis of the current guidelines [1]. An initial heparin bolus of 120 units/kg was intravenously administered immediately after the sheath insertion, followed by its continuous infusion of 30-50 units/kg/h. Additional heparin boluses were repeated to achieve an ACT of 300-350 sec, if necessary. The ACT was checked at 15-minute intervals with the use of a dedicated analyzer (Hemochron® Response, International Technidyne Corporation, Edison, NJ, USA) until its target value was achieved, and then at 30-minute intervals for the duration of the procedure. A 20-40 mg dose of protamine was routinely infused to reverse the heparin at the end of the procedure.