What is flattened T wave?

A flattened T wave in an electrocardiogram (ECG) is a change in the waveform that indicates a potential abnormality in the heart's electrical activity. The T wave represents the repolarization phase of the ventricular myocardial cells after they have been depolarized during a heartbeat. When T waves are flattened, it suggests that the repolarization process is not occurring as it should, which can be due to various reasons, including myocardial ischemia. Myocardial ischemia can affect T wave morphology in several ways: T waves may become tall, flattened, inverted, or biphasic. Flattened T waves are often observed in conditions where there is reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, which can be a sign of ischemia. They can also be seen in other conditions such as electrolyte imbalances, certain medications, or other heart diseases. It's important to note that while flattened T waves can be a sign of myocardial ischemia, they are not specific to this condition and can be seen in a variety of clinical contexts. Therefore, the presence of flattened T waves on an ECG should be interpreted in the context of the patient's symptoms, medical history, and other diagnostic findings.

Myocardial ischaemia can affect T wave morphology in a variety of ways: T waves may become tall, flattened, inverted, or biphasic. Tall T waves are one of the earliest changes seen in acute myocardial infarction, most often seen in the anterior chest leads.