Introduction: Cardiac memory is recognized as altered T-waves when the sinus rhythm resumes after an abnormal myocardial activation period that recovers slowly over several weeks. The T-wave changes after ablation of frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) as cardiac memory was not known.
Objective: This study identified whether cardiac memory exists after successful ablation of PVCs from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT).
Methods: We investigated 45 patients who underwent successful ablation of PVCs from RVOT and 10 patients who underwent unsuccessful ablation. We analyzed the amplitude of the T-wave, QT intervals, and QRST time-integral values of a 12-lead electrocardiogram before ablation and 1 day, 3 days, and 1 month after ablation.
Results: In the successful ablation group, the amplitude of the T-wave and QRST time-integral values of lead II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF significantly changed after ablation and gradually normalized within 1 month. In addition, if the number of pre-ablation PVCs was small, then the corresponding impact was also small. However, the greater the number of pre-ablation PVCs, the more prominent the changes. Significant changes were not observed in the unsuccessful ablation group.
Conclusion: When ablation of PVCs from RVOT was successful, primary T-wave changes because of cardiac memory and the gradual normalization of the amplitude of the T-wave were observed. No significant T-wave changes were detected after unsuccessful ablation.
Keywords: T-wave change; ablation; cardiac memory; outflow tract; premature ventricular contraction.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.