title: [A comparison of two methods of long-term external ECG telemonitoring in patients after ablation for atrial fibrillation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare two methods of long-term ECG monitoring after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 279 patients with paroxysmal (n = 163) or persistent (n = 116) AF, who were followed up for 1 year after the first catheter ablation for AF. All patients were provided with episodic ECG recorder for 1 year and instructed to send at least 2 random ECG recordings per day and whenever they sensed symptoms. They were also provided with external loop recorder for 2-3 weeks at 6 and 12 months to enable more continuous ECG monitoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of 39 ± 12 (12-60) month follow-up, 143 (88%) patients with paroxysmal AF, and 105 (91%) patients with persistent AF, respectively, remained in stable sinus rhythm. The efficacy of episodic recorder expressed as a ratio of patients with identified AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) out of all patients with a documented episode of AF/AT was superior to the efficacy of loop recorder. No AF/AT episode was recorded with the loop recorder that was not also documented by the episodic recorder. Of the patients with the AF/AT recurrence detected by the episodic recorder, the arrhythmia was also revealed by the loop recorder in 70% of the patients after paroxysmal AF ablation (p < 0.001), and in 52% of the patients after persistent AF ablation (p = 0.006). Asymptomatic AF/AT was present in 42 (26%) of patients with paroxysmal AF, and in 28 (24%) patients with persistent AF (p = 0.810). From conventional follow-up unexpected and clinically significant episode of AF/AT that required change in therapy was detected in 9 (5.5%) patients after ablation for paroxysmal AF, and in 4 (3.4%) patients after ablation for persistent FS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More episodes of AF/AT after ablation were detected by 1-year daily ECG monitoring using episodic recorder as compared to periodic ECG monitoring with loop recorder. Identification of clinically significant episodes of AF/AT unrecognized from conventional follow-up was low.
authors.affiliation: Oddeleni Kardiologie Nemocnice Podlesi, Trineci.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chovančík
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bulková
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gandalovičová
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Královec
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neuwirth
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tolaszová
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jiravský
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brada
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Januška
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013686:Telemetry