Methods Patient Characteristics

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a marker for increased mor-tality and can reduce quality of life in patients who have implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and structural heart disease.1,2 Radiofrequency catheter ablation is an accepted ther-apy to reduce episodes of drug-refractory VT, but recurrences are not uncommon, despite acutely successful ablation.3,4 The opti-mal duration for monitoring in hospital after ablation is not clear. Although hospital stays are often short in uncomplicated patients, we have observed several patients who needed further ablation because of early recurrences.5 Others have observed that VT, which is not inducible at the end of the procedure, is again induc-ible within a few days in a substantial number of patients, suggest-ing lesion healing.6 It seems likely that there are patients who are at risk for early recurrence and who may benefit from prolonged monitoring for recurrence and consideration of early repeat abla-tion. The aims of this study were to identify potential markers of early recurrence and assess the prognosis of these patients. Clinical Perspective on p 88