ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ERAT) during blanking period (BP) is not uncommon after catheter ablation of AF. Current guidelines and consensus statements recommend conservative treatment of ERAT. This review summarized recent studies, underlying mechanism and clinical managements of ERAT, and proposed a reconsideration of the definition and clinical significance of BP. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have shown that the entity of ERAT in the very early phase of BP (i.e., first 4âweeks of the 3-month period) is different from those ERATs occurring late which is strongly associated with the late recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia. The optimal BP duration suggested by clinical observation ranges from 21 to 58âdays. Using antiarrhythmic drugs and early electrical cardioversion are the effective management for ERAT, whereas re-ablation is a reasonable strategy although remains controversial. SUMMARY: The definition of BP with a shorter duration, that is, 1âmonth instead of 3âmonths post AF ablation, is supported by the observations of latest clinical studies. Recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia beyond the 1-month time frame is associated with higher risk of late recurrence and may warrant repeat ablation. A revisit to the guideline recommendation on management of ERAT is needed to change clinical practice.