Premature atrial contraction natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [2]

Premature atrial contraction (PAC) is a common form of supraventricular arrhythmias and mostly the prognosis is good. In rare cases, severe symptoms other than palpitation may occur.

• In general the prognosis of PACs is good, and their occurrence and prognosis is determined by the underlying condition that triggered the PACs.
• In rare cases, like a premature ventricular contraction (PVC), PACs trigger a more serious arrhythmia such as atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation.
• Unlike premature ventricular contraction, PAC’s generally do not cause hemodynamic compromise because the conduction throughout the AV node and ventricles is normal, and the filling and contraction of the heart is therefore normal.

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