Daily ECG Versus 7-day Holter ECG After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Introduction: The optimal method for the assessment of efficacy of ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has not yet been established. The symptom-based evaluation is not accurate because many AF episodes are asymptomatic. It has been well documented that the more frequent and/or longer ECG recording the more the AF recurrences are detected. However, such devices for long-term ECG monitoring as implantable loop recorders are expensive whereas external ECG monitoring is not well tolerated over a period longer than one month. The most frequently used approach is periodic 1-7 day Holter ECG monitoring, usually performed 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure and additional standard ECG recordings when symptoms occur. Using this method, asymptomatic AF episodes occurring between Holter ECG recordings are missed. Recently, several types of external ECG recorders have been introduced, enabling good quality frequent ECG recordings and transmission via mobile phones. Only a few studies documented the usefulness of this method in detecting silent AF in a high-risk population, however, the value of short but frequent ECG recordings after AF ablation has not yet been established. In these studies, short ECG recordings performer once or twice daily detected the highest number of AF episodes. In summary, data on the optimal type of ECG monitoring after AF ablation are scarce. It seems that frequent, short ECG recordings have more diagnostic yield than 24-hour ECG monitoring, even when performed monthly, or standard care with recording ECG only when symptoms suggesting AF occur. However, the optimal mode of monitoring is not known. Such questions as whether once-a-day ECG transmission is enough and whether longer i.e. 7-day Holter ECG may be as valuable as daily ECG transmissions, remain unanswered. Aim: to compare daily ECG transmissions with repeated 7-day Holter ECG in detecting AF episodes following AF ablation. Hypothesis: daily ECG recordings have significantly higher