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A comparison of two methods of long-term external ECG telemonitoring in patients after ablation for atrial fibrillation


Authors: J. Chovančík 1;  V. Bulková 2;  M. Fiala 1;  J. Gandalovičová 2;  Š. Královec 2;  R. Neuwirth 1;  H. Tolaszová 2;  O. Jiravský 1;  J. Brada 2;  J. Januška 1
Authors‘ workplace: Oddělení kardiologie Nemocnice Podlesí a. s., Třinec, přednosta prim. MUDr. Marian Branny 1;  MDT – Medical Data Transfer, s. r. o, Brno, vedoucí pracovník Mgr. Veronika Bulková, Ph. D. 2
Published in: Vnitř Lék 2012; 58(9): 633-639
Category: Original Contributions

Overview

Aim:
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.

Conclusion:
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.

Key words:
atrial fibrillation – catheter ablation – ECG monitoring


Sources

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