To evaluate the changes of left atrial function after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA)and the influence of different origin frequent premature ventricular contractions(PVC)on left atrial function before and after RFCA.

A total of 68 inpatients with frequent PVC observed on 24 h Holter monitoring(>10 000/24 h)and successful radiofrequency ablation were included in this study in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2014 to December 2015.Among them 41 patients with frequent PVC originated from the right ventricle [age(47±15)years, 15 males] and 27 originated from the left ventricle [age(50±17)years, 16 males]. Left atrial structure and function indices were measured by echocardiography before and after RFCA at 1 day, 2 weeks and 4 weeks to investigate whether there was a difference between groups.

In the right ventricular PVC group, the left atrium diameter(LAD)showed a little decreasing trend, the LAD at 2 weeks after operation was the lowest level [(31.7±3.6) mm vs.(33.2±4.6) mm, P<0.05]. Preoperative left atrial ejection fraction(LAEF) was significantly lower than that of healthy controls(63.6%±9.3% vs.70.3%±9.2%,P<0.05), postoperative LAEF increased slowly and upped to the highest point in 4 weeks after operation(68.1%±8.2% vs.63.6%±9.3%,P<0.05). The left atrial strain(S)and the strain rate at left atrial systolic(SRa)after radiofrequency ablation increased gradually(P<0.05). In the left ventricular PVC group, preoperative LAEF was significantly lower than that of healthy controls(60.9%±12.2% vs.70.3%±9.2%,P<0.05) and there was no significant difference between before and 4 weeks after radiofrequency ablation(P>0.05). The S and the strain rate at left ventricular diastolic early(SRe)in the right ventricular group was significantly higher than that in the left ventricular group(P<0.05). Although, other indexes had a trend of drcrease in the right ventricular origin group than that in the left ventricular origin group, the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).

The left atrial function was significantly improved in 4 weeks after operation in the right ventricular origin group, but had no change in the left ventricular origin group.We should make more aggressive treatment of frequent PVC originating from the right ventricle.

Premature ventricular contractions; Radiofrequency catheter ablation; Left atrium; Echocardiography