Follow-up
Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were retrospectively collected from our computerized database. Follow-up survival, clinical and echocardiographic data were collected through regular clinical visits at our institution or affiliated clinics and hospitals, and through questionnaires to patients. Patient follow-up was based on the available recommendations [8]. Records pertaining to reported office visits, echocardiography and rhythm information, operations, cardioversions, catheter ablation or hospitalizations were obtained and analysed. Rhythm follow-up was based on electrocardiograms obtained during regular follow-up. Additional rhythm monitoring (e.g. 24-h Holter monitoring) was performed on clinical grounds (e.g. complaints of heart palpitations) and the indication for this was left at the discretion of the attending cardiologist. A total of 1126 (mean 2.3/patient, range 0–8) follow-up echocardiograms were available for analysis.
The study was approved by our Institutional Ethics Committee and patient consent was obtained to allow collection and analysis of any relevant clinical and echocardiographic data. Follow-up was completed in February 2017.