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Premature ventricular contraction

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[2] Homa Najafi, M.D.[3]Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [4]

Synonyms and keywords: Premature ventricular beat; premature ventricular beats; premature ventricular complex; premature ventricular complexes; premature ventricular contraction; premature ventricular contractions; PVB; PVBs; PVC; PVCs; VEA; VEB; VEBs; VES; ventricular ectopic activity; ventricular ectopic beat; ventricular ectopic beats; ventricular extrasystole; ventricular premature beat; ventricular premature beats; ventricular premature complex; ventricular premature complexes; ventricular premature contraction; ventricular premature contractions; VPB; VPBs; VPC; VPCs

Overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[2] Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [3] Homa Najafi, M.D.[4]

Overview

Premature ventricular contraction is a form of irregular heart beat in which the ventricle contracts prematurely. This results in a skipped beat followed by a stronger beat. Individuals may report a feeling that their heart stops after a premature ventricular contraction.

Classification

Premature ventricular contractions can be classified based upon the number of normal beats between them and defined accordingly into bigeminy, trigeminy, or quadrigeminy.

Pathophysiology

Premature ventricular contraction is a relatively common event where the heartbeat is initiated by Purkinje fibres in the ventricles rather than by the sinoatrial node, the normal heartbeat initiator. Re-entrant signalling and enhanced automaticity in some ectopic focus are the main pathophysiological explanations.

Causes

Premature ventricular contractions can occur in a healthy person of any age, however they are more common in patients with underlying heart disease such as ischemic heart disease and structural heart disease. Patients on tricyclic antidepressant are at risk of having PVCs.

Differentiating Premature Ventricular Contraction from other Diseases

A premature ventricular contraction originates in the ventricle, and this must be differentiated from an impulse that originates above the ventricle (i.e. it is supraventricular in origin) and conducts with a delay (i.e. a wide complex, it is aberrantly conducted).

Epidemiology and Demographics

The prevalence of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) varies between 100 to 400 per 100,000 individuals worldwide on standard 12-lead electrocardiography and 4000 to 7500 per 100,000 individuals on 24- to 48-hour Holter monitoring. Patients of all age groups may develop PVC and the incidence increases with age. African- American individuals are more likely to develop PVCs. Men are more commonly developed the disease than women.

Risk Factors

Premature ventricular contraction can occur due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the common risk factors are anxiety, physiological stress etc. Patient with copper deficiency are also prone to PVCs.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Premature ventricular contraction caries no risk of mortality in the absence of any underlying heart disease. Heart rate turbulence is a phenomenon representing the return to equilibrium of the heart rate after a PVC. These parameters correlate significantly with mortality after myocardial infarction.

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Premature ventricular contraction patients may have no symptom at all or may present with exercise intolerance and chest pain. Sometimes patients may present with a non specific feeling of forceful beat which might need the use of Holter monitor to pick up PVCs.

Physical Examination

Complete physical examination help determine any heart defects as a cause for premature ventricular contractions.

Laboratory Findings

Many cases of premature ventricular contraction have no definite cause, it may be the result of various other problems. If PVC patients present with symptoms, a generalized approach is done to find the precipitating factors.

Electrocardiogram

When looking at an electrocardiograph, premature ventricular contractions are easily spotted and therefore a definitive diagnosis can be made. The QRS and T waves look very different to normal readings. The spacing between the PVC and the preceding QRS wave is a lot shorter than usual and the time between the PVC and the proceeding QRS is a lot longer. However, the time between the preceding and proceeding QRS waves stays the same as normal due to the compensatory pause.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Isolated premature ventricular contractions with benign characteristics require no treatment. In healthy individuals, PVCs can often be resolved by restoring the balance of magnesium, calcium and potassium within the body.

Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is useful for treating patients with high frequency of premature ventricular contraction episodes.

Primary Prevention

The most effective treatment of premature ventricular contraction is the elimination of triggers particularly the cessation of the use of substances such as caffeine, and certain drugs.

References

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Historical Perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[2]

Overview

Historical Perspective

  • During the second century BC, Herophilus, a Greek anatomist and physician described what is known today as extrasystoles, which was called “intermittent pulse” by his successors.
  • Later, Galen (132-201 AD) became interested in studying this abnormality and he hypothesized a link between intermittent pulse and death and was considered an ominous sign. His teachings remained unrevised till around the 17th century.
  • Between the 17th and the 19th century, authors, still influenced by Galen’s tenets, were more interested in describing the character of the intermittent pulse rather than researching the cause behind it. Writers during this period still linked intermittent pulse to subsequent cardiac or medical conditions and confirmed that is in fact a manifestation of disease.
  • In 1899, Cushny and Wenckebach were the first known to postulate that intermittent pulse was actually caused by extrasystoles. This discovery was only made possible in the light of the development of the cardiac science of electrophysiology growing big in the 20th century utilizing animal physiology labs. The theory was also approved at that time by by Hering, Pan and Trendelenburg. Wenckebach believed that intermittent pulse was not a caused by disturbance of pulse, but in fact a problem with cardiac function.
  • Einthoven, 1906, unleashed a new era in the understanding of extra-systoles by recording the fist extrasystole using the string of a galvanometer.
  • It was not before the 20th century that the Galenic teachings were challenged by some authors like Mackenzie, Lewis and Osler, who described extra-systoles as a benign phenomenon in the absence of other cardiac manifestations. This belief started to grow in Cardiology texts during the late 1960’s, that extra-systoles can occur in normal persons and is not a manifestation of disease. In 1968, and by the development in the science of electrophysiology, it was possible to describe the origin of the extrasystole, and scientists were particularly concerned about those originating from the ventricles.
  • In 1969, results of a widely publicized observation study which including an entire population of Tecumseh city (1959-1965), 2.8% was the incidence rate of death in subjects with ventricular ectopy in contrast to 1.3% among normal subjects, a difference not clinically significant. Many of the subjects with ventricular ectopy resulting in death were suffering coronary artery disease. Thus, this study made evident that not all patients exhibiting ventricular ectopy are alike and they can be sub-grouped into categories with different prognosis.
  • However, in practice, clinicians in the late 1970’s still viewed all ventricular ectopy as a potential cause of sudden death and used to admit all patients to CCU to be treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. Premature ventricular conduction has since then being regarded as an area of debate given the clinical significance and versatility of patient subsets each exhibiting different prognosis.[1]

References

  1. Horan, M. J. (February 1984). “Ventricular ectopy. History, epidemiology, and clinical implications”. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 251: 380–386.

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Classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [2] Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[3]

Overview

Premature ventricular contractions can be classified based upon the number of normal beats between them.

Classification

  • There are four different named patterns of regularly occurring PVCs.
  • Depending whether there are 1, 2, or 3 normal beats between each PVC, the rhythm is called bigeminy, trigeminy, or quadrigeminy.
  • Unifocal PVCs are triggered from a single site in the ventricle, causing the peaks on the ECG to look the same.
  • Multifocal PVCs arise when more than one site in the ventricles initiate depolarization, causing each peak on the ECG to have a different shape. If 3 or more PVCs occur in a row it may be called ventricular tachycardia.

Overview

There is no established system for the classification of [disease name].

OR

[Disease name] may be classified according to [vcbvgbfggbnto [number] subtypes/groups: [group1], [group2], [group3], and [group4].

OR

[Disease name] may be classified into [large number > 6] subtypes based on [classification method 1], [classification method 2], and [classification method 3]. [Disease name] may be classified into several subtypes based on [classification method 1], [classification method 2], and [classification method 3].

OR

Based on the duration of symptoms, [disease name] may be classified as either acute or chronic.

OR

If the staging system involves specific and characteristic findings and features: According to the [staging system + reference], there are [number] stages of [malignancy name] based on the [finding1], [finding2], and [finding3]. Each stage is assigned a [letter/number1] and a [letter/number2] that designate the [feature1] and [feature2].

OR

The staging of [malignancy name] is based on the [staging system].

OR

There is no established system for the staging of [malignancy name].

Classification

There is no established system for the classification of [disease name].

OR

[Disease name] may be classified according to [classification method] into [number] subtypes/groups:

  • [Group1]
  • [Group2]
  • [Group3]
  • [Group4]

OR

[Disease name] may be classified into [large number > 6] subtypes based on:

  • [Classification method 1]
  • [Classification method 2]
  • [Classification method 3]

[Disease name] may be classified into several subtypes based on:

  • [Classification method 1]
  • [Classification method 2]
  • [Classification method 3]

OR

Based on the duration of symptoms, [disease name] may be classified as either acute or chronic.

OR

If the staging system involves specific and characteristic findings and features:

According to the [staging system + reference], there are [number] stages of [malignancy name] based on the [finding1], [finding2], and [finding3]. Each stage is assigned a [letter/number1] and a [letter/number2] that designate the [feature1] and [feature2].

OR

The staging of [malignancy name] is based on the [staging system].

OR

There is no established system for the staging of [malignancy name].

Overview

There is no established system for the classification of [disease name].

OR

[Disease name] may be classified according to [classification method] into [number] subtypes/groups: [group1], [group2], [group3], and [group4].

OR

[Disease name] may be classified into [large number > 6] subtypes based on [classification method 1], [classification method 2], and [classification method 3]. [Disease name] may be classified into several subtypes based on [classification method 1], [classification method 2], and [classification method 3].

OR

Based on the duration of symptoms, [disease name] may be classified as either acute or chronic.

OR

If the staging system involves specific and characteristic findings and features: According to the [staging system + reference], there are [number] stages of [malignancy name] based on the [finding1], [finding2], and [finding3]. Each stage is assigned a [letter/number1] and a [letter/number2] that designate the [feature1] and [feature2].

OR

The staging of [malignancy name] is based on the [staging system].

OR

There is no established system for the staging of [malignancy name].

Classification

There is no established system for the classification of [disease name].

OR

[Disease name] may be classified according to [classification method] into [number] subtypes/groups:

  • [Group1]
  • [Group2]
  • [Group3]
  • [Group4]

OR

[Disease name] may be classified into [large number > 6] subtypes based on:

  • [Classification method 1]
  • [Classification method 2]
  • [Classification method 3]

[Disease name] may be classified into several subtypes based on:

  • [Classification method 1]
  • [Classification method 2]
  • [Classification method 3]

OR

Based on the duration of symptoms, [disease name] may be classified as either acute or chronic.

OR

If the staging system involves specific and characteristic findings and features:

According to the [staging system + reference], there are [number] stages of [malignancy name] based on the [finding1], [finding2], and [finding3]. Each stage is assigned a [letter/number1] and a [letter/number2] that designate the [feature1] and [feature2].

OR

The staging of [malignancy name] is based on the [staging system].

OR

There is no established system for the staging of [malignancy name].

References

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References

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Pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[2] Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [3]

Overview

Premature ventricular contraction is a relatively common event where the heartbeat is initiated by Purkinje fibres in the ventricles rather than by the sinoatrial node, the normal heartbeat initiator.

Pathophysiology

  • Normally impulses pass through both ventricles almost simultaneously and the depolarization waves of the two ventricles partially cancel each other out in the ECG. However, when a PVC occurs the impulse nearly always travels in one direction, so there is no neutralisation effect and this results in the high voltage QRS wave in the electrocardiograph.
  • There are two main physiological explanations for premature ventricular contractions:
    • 1. Re-entrant signalling
    • 2. Enhanced automaticity in some ectopic focus: The enhanced automaticity means that the ectopic centre fires more regularly than usual and is protected from depolarisation that results in premature contractions.

Molecular basis

There are a number of different molecular explanations for PVCs. One explanation is most basically due to an increased amount of cyclic AMP(cAMP) in the ventricular cardiac myocytes leading to increased flow of calcium ions into the cell. This may happen for the following reasons:

  • Activation of the sympathetic nervous system, due to anxiety or hypovolemia. This activation can cause a release of catecholamines such as epinephrine (adrenaline) which can bind to beta-1 adrenergic receptor1 receptors) on cardiac myocytes, activating a type of guanosine nucleotide-binding protein called Gs protein.[1] This type of protein stimulates the production of cAMP,[2] ultimately increasing the flow of calcium ions from the extracellular space and from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol.[3]
    This has the effect of increasing the strength of contraction (inotropy) and depolarizing the myocyte more rapidly (chronotropy). The ventricular myocytes are therefore more irritable than usual, and may depolarize spontaneously before the SA node depolarizes. Other sympathomimetic molecules such as amphetamines and cocaine will also cause this effect.
  • Phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as caffeine directly affect the G-coupled signal transduction cascade[4] by inhibiting the enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of cAMP,[1] again leading to the increased concentration of calcium ions in the cytosol.
  • Potassium ion concentrations are a major determinant in the magnitude of the electrochemical potential of cells, and hypokalemia makes it more likely that cells will depolarize spontaneously.
  • Hypercalcemia has a similar effect, although clinically it is of less concern.
  • Magnesium ions affect the flow of calcium ions, and they affect the function of the Na+/K+ ATPase, and are necessary for maintaining potassium levels. Hypomagnesemia therefore also makes spontaneous depolarization more likely.
  • Existing damage to the myocardium can also provoke PVCs. The myocardial scarring that occurs in myocardial infarction and also in the surgical repair of congenital heart disease can disrupt the conduction system of the heart and may also irritate surrounding viable ventricular myocytes, make them more likely to depolarize spontaneously. Inflammation of the myocardium (as occurs in myocarditis) and systemic inflammation cause surges of cytokines, which can affect the electrical properties of myocytes and may be ultimately responsible for causing irritability of myocytes.

Overview

The exact pathogenesis of [disease name] is not fully understood.

OR

It is thought that [disease name] is the result of / is mediated by / is produced by / is caused by either [hypothesis 1], [hypothesis 2], or [hypothesis 3].

OR

[Pathogen name] is usually transmitted via the [transmission route] route to the human host.

OR

Following transmission/ingestion, the [pathogen] uses the [entry site] to invade the [cell name] cell.

OR


[Disease or malignancy name] arises from [cell name]s, which are [cell type] cells that are normally involved in [function of cells].

OR

The progression to [disease name] usually involves the [molecular pathway].

OR

The pathophysiology of [disease/malignancy] depends on the histological subtype.

Pathophysiology

Physiology

The normal physiology of [name of process] can be understood as follows:

Pathogenesis

  • The exact pathogenesis of [disease name] is not completely understood.

OR

  • It is understood that [disease name] is the result of / is mediated by / is produced by / is caused by either [hypothesis 1], [hypothesis 2], or [hypothesis 3].
  • [Pathogen name] is usually transmitted via the [transmission route] route to the human host.
  • Following transmission/ingestion, the [pathogen] uses the [entry site] to invade the [cell name] cell.
  • [Disease or malignancy name] arises from [cell name]s, which are [cell type] cells that are normally involved in [function of cells].
  • The progression to [disease name] usually involves the [molecular pathway].
  • The pathophysiology of [disease/malignancy] depends on the histological subtype.

Genetics

[Disease name] is transmitted in [mode of genetic transmission] pattern.

OR

Genes involved in the pathogenesis of [disease name] include:

  • [Gene1]
  • [Gene2]
  • [Gene3]

OR

The development of [disease name] is the result of multiple genetic mutations such as:

  • [Mutation 1]
  • [Mutation 2]
  • [Mutation 3]

Associated Conditions

Conditions associated with [disease name] include:

  • [Condition 1]
  • [Condition 2]
  • [Condition 3]

Gross Pathology

On gross pathology, [feature1], [feature2], and [feature3] are characteristic findings of [disease name].

Microscopic Pathology

On microscopic histopathological analysis, [feature1], [feature2], and [feature3] are characteristic findings of [disease name].

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Nelson 2008, p. 424
  2. Levy 2007, p. 62
  3. Levy 2007, p. 24
  4. Nelson 2008, p. 430

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Causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [2] Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[3]

Overview

Premature ventricular contractions can occur in a healthy person of any age, however, they are more common in patients with underlying heart disease such as ischemic heart disease and structural heart disease. Patients on tricyclic antidepressant are at risk of having PVCs.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular

Acute coronary syndrome, Andersen cardiodysrhythmic periodic paralysis, aortic stenosis, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, AV block, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, cor pulmonale, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, long QT syndrome, mitral valve prolapse, myocardial contusion, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, NSTEMI, pericarditis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia, Romano-Ward syndrome, short QT syndrome, short QT syndrome type 1, short QT syndrome type 2, short QT syndrome type 3, short QT syndrome type 4, short QT syndrome type 5, STEMI, Timothy syndrome, torsade de pointes, unstable angina, valvular heart disease, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Chemical / poisoning Arsenic trioxide, monosodium glutamate
Dermatologic No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect Almokalant, aminophylline, amiodarone, amitriptyline, amphetamines, antiarrhythmics, asenapine, astemizole, azimilide, azithromycin, bepridil, chloroquine, cisapride, citalopram, clomipramine, clozapine, cromolyn,cocaine, desipramine, digitalis, digoxin, diphenhydramine, disopyramide, dofetilide, dolasetron, doxepin, dronedarone, droperidol, eribulin mesylate, fluconazole, halofantrine, haloperidol, Hydroxocobalamin, ibutilide, imipramine, inotropes, ketanserin, ketoconazole, lidoflazine, lubeluzole, methadone, methadyl acetate, methamphetamine, midodrine, mizolastine, moxifloxacin, naratriptan, nicardipine, nilotinib, ondansetron, Oxytocin, pazopanib, pentamidine, Pergolide, phenothiazines, phenylephrine, pimozide, piperaquine, prenylamine, probucol, procainamide, propoxyphene, pseudoephedrine, quinidine, quinine, ranolazine, retigabine, ritodrine, ritonavir, saquinavir, sertindole, sotalol, sparfloxacin, sympathomimetics, tedisamil, telithromycin, terfenadine, terodiline, tetrabenazine, theobromine, thioridazine, tricyclic antidepressants, vandetanib, vemurafenib, vernakalant, voriconazole, vorinostat, ziprasidone
Ear Nose Throat No underlying causes
Endocrine Cushing’s syndrome, diabetic ketoacidosis, metabolic syndrome, thyrotoxicosis
Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic No underlying causes
Genetic Andersen cardiodysrhythmic periodic paralysis, channelopathies, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, Romano-Ward syndrome, short QT syndrome, short QT syndrome type 1, short QT syndrome type 2, short QT syndrome type 3, short QT syndrome type 4, short QT syndrome type 5, Timothy syndrome
Hematologic No underlying causes
Iatrogenic Acute cardiac allograft rejection, cardiac stress test, cardiac transplantation, cardioversion, defibrillation, heart surgery, pulmonary artery catheter, right heart catheterisation
Infectious Disease Myocarditis, rheumatic fever
Musculoskeletal / Ortho Myotonic dystrophy, Timothy syndrome
Neurologic No underlying causes
Nutritional / Metabolic Acid-base disturbances, acidosis, acute starvation, hypercalcemia, hypoglycaemia, hypomagnesemia
Obstetric/Gynecologic No underlying causes
Oncologic Pheochromocytoma
Opthalmologic No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity Amiodarone, amphetamines, chloroquine, clozapine, cocaine, digitalis, halofantrine, haloperidol, methadone, methadyl acetate, methamphetamine, quinine
Psychiatric Acute stress disorder, anxiety disorders, bulimia nervosa, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Pulmonary Chronic lung disease, COPD, cor pulmonale, hypercapnia, hypoxia, obstructive sleep apnea, pulmonary embolism, respiratory acidosis
Renal / Electrolyte Chronic renal failure, electrolyte imbalance, hypokalemia
Rheum / Immune / Allergy Acute cardiac allograft rejection
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma Electrocution, myocardial contusion
Urologic No underlying causes
Dental No underlying causes
Miscellaneous Alcohol, caffeine, Idiopathic, tobacco, zero gravity

Causes in Alphabetical Order


Overview

Disease name] may be caused by [cause1], [cause2], or [cause3].

OR

Common causes of [disease] include [cause1], [cause2], and [cause3].

OR

The most common cause of [disease name] is [cause 1]. Less common causes of [disease name] include [cause 2], [cause 3], and [cause 4].

OR

The cause of [disease name] has not been identified. To review risk factors for the development of [disease name], click here.

Causes

Life-threatening Causes

  • Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated. There are no life-threatening causes of disease name, however complications resulting from untreated disease name is common.
  • Life-threatening causes of [symptom/manifestation] include [cause1], [cause2], and [cause3].
  • [Cause] is a life-threatening cause of [disease].

Common Causes

Common causes of [disease name] may include:

  • [Cause1]
  • [Cause2]
  • [Cause3]


OR


  • [Disease name] is caused by an infection with [pathogen name].
  • [Pathogen name] is caused by [pathogen name].

Less Common Causes

Less common causes of [disease name] include:

  • [Cause1]
  • [Cause2]
  • [Cause3]

Genetic Causes

  • [Disease name] is caused by a mutation in the [gene name] gene.

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular No underlying causes
Chemical/Poisoning No underlying causes
Dental No underlying causes
Dermatologic No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect No underlying causes
Ear Nose Throat No underlying causes
Endocrine No underlying causes
Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic No underlying causes
Genetic No underlying causes
Hematologic No underlying causes
Iatrogenic No underlying causes
Infectious Disease No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic No underlying causes
Neurologic No underlying causes
Nutritional/Metabolic No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic No underlying causes
Oncologic No underlying causes
Ophthalmologic No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity No underlying causes
Psychiatric No underlying causes
Pulmonary No underlying causes
Renal/Electrolyte No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy No underlying causes
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma No underlying causes
Urologic No underlying causes
Miscellaneous No underlying causes


Causes in Alphabetical Order

List the causes of the disease in alphabetical order:

  • Cause 1
  • Cause 2
  • Cause 3
  • Cause 4
  • Cause 5
  • Cause 6
  • Cause 7
  • Cause 8
  • Cause 9
  • Cause 10


References

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Differentiating Premature ventricular contraction from other Disorders

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [2] Homa Najafi, M.D.[3] Sahar Memar Montazerin, M.D.[4]

Overview

A premature ventricular contraction originates in the ventricle, and this must be differentiated from an impulse that originates above the ventricle (i.e. it is supraventricular in origin) and conducts with a delay (i.e. a wide complex, it is aberrantly conducted).

Differentiating Premature Ventricular Contraction from other Diseases

Supraventricular Origin of an Impulse with Aberrant Conduction

Aberrant ventricular conduction is:

  • A transient form of abnormal intraventricular conduction delay (#IVCD) and occurs when there is unequal refractoriness of the two bundles.
  • The right bundle has a longer action potential duration, and is more vulnerable to conduction delay or failure.
  • The refractory period is affected by the preceding cycle length.
  • The refractory period is longer when there is a long preceding RR interval.
  • Aberrant ventricular conduction is favored when a premature supraventricular impulse comes after a long preceding RR interval (Ashman phenomenon).
  • If the underlying rhythm is sinus in origin, and if the abnormal QRS is preceded by a premature P wave, then the ectopic beat is likely to be supraventricular in origin.
  • The absence of a fully compensatory pause further supports this diagnosis.
  • If a retrograde P wave is identifiable after the QRS complex and the RP interval is less than 0.11 second, the premature beat is likely to have originated from the AV junction, since the RP interval is too short for VA conduction (unless an accessory pathway is present).
  • A long RP interval of 0.20 seconds or longer is suggestive but not diagnostic of a PVC, since the retrograde conduction time of a junctional beat is less likely to exceed this duration.
  • The beat is more likely to be due to aberrancy if the initial forces are similar to those of the sinus beat and if it has an RSR’ configuration in lead V1.
  • If the QRS complexes in all the precordial leads are positive or all negative, then a PVC is more likely.
  • Diagnosis of PVCs in the presence of atrial fibrillation:
    • Absence of P waves and the irregularity of the rhythm are the handicaps
    • A constant coupling time is suggestive of PVCs
    • Ashman phenomenon. Keep in mind that a long cycle length also favors the precipitation of a PVC, therefore this sign is helpful but not diagnostic of aberrancy.
    • PVC is favored if the abnormal complex terminates a short-long cycle.

Overview

[Disease name] must be differentiated from other diseases that cause [clinical feature 1], [clinical feature 2], and [clinical feature 3], such as [differential dx1], [differential dx2], and [differential dx3].

OR

[Disease name] must be differentiated from [[differential dx1], [differential dx2], and [differential dx3].

Differentiating [Disease name] from other Diseases

[Disease name] must be differentiated from other diseases that cause [clinical feature 1], [clinical feature 2], and [clinical feature 3], such as [differential dx1], [differential dx2], and [differential dx3].

OR

[Disease name] must be differentiated from [differential dx1], [differential dx2], and [differential dx3].

OR

As [disease name] manifests in a variety of clinical forms, differentiation must be established in accordance with the particular subtype. [Subtype name 1] must be differentiated from other diseases that cause [clinical feature 1], such as [differential dx1] and [differential dx2]. In contrast, [subtype name 2] must be differentiated from other diseases that cause [clinical feature 2], such as [differential dx3] and [differential dx4].

Differentiating [disease name] from other diseases on the basis of [symptom 1], [symptom 2], and [symptom 3]

On the basis [symptom 1], [symptom 2], and [symptom 3], [disease name] must be differentiated from [disease 1], [disease 2], [disease 3], [disease 4], [disease 5], and [disease 6].


Arrhythmia Rhythm Rate P wave PR Interval QRS Complex Response to Maneuvers Epidemiology Co-existing Conditions
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)[1][2]
  • Irregularly irregular
  • Absent
  • Fibrillatory waves
  • Absent
  • Less than 0.12 seconds, consistent, and normal in morphology in the absence of aberrant conduction
  • 2.7–6.1 million people in the United States have AFib
  • 2% of people younger than age 65 have AFib, while about 9% of people aged 65 years or older have AFib
Atrial Flutter[3]
  • Regular or Irregular
  • 75 (4:1 block), 100 (3:1 block) and 150 (2:1 block) beats per minute (bpm), but 150 is more common
  • Sawtooth pattern of P waves at 250 to 350 bpm
  • Biphasic deflection in V1
  • Varies depending upon the magnitude of the block, but is short
  • Less than 0.12 seconds, consistent, and normal in morphology
  • Conduction may vary in response to drugs and maneuvers dropping the rate from 150 to 100 or to 75 bpm
Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT)[4][5][6][7]
  • Regular
  • 140-280 bpm
  • Slow-Fast AVNRT:
    • Pseudo-S wave in leads II, III, and AVF
    • Pseudo-R’ in lead V1.
  • Fast-Slow AVNRT
  • Slow-Slow AVNRT
  • Inverted, superimposed on or buried within the QRS complex (pseudo R prime in V1/pseudo S wave in inferior leads)
  • Absent (P wave can appear after the QRS complex and before the T wave, and in atypical AVNRT, the P wave can appear just before the QRS complex)
  • Less than 0.12 seconds, consistent, and normal in morphology in the absence of aberrant conduction
  • QRS alternans may be present
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia[8][9]
  • Irregular
  • Atrial rate is > 100 beats per minute
  • Varying morphology from at least three different foci
  • Absence of one dominant atrial pacemaker, can be mistaken for atrial fibrillation if the P waves are of low amplitude
  • Less than 0.12 seconds, consistent, and normal in morphology
Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
  • Regular
  • 150 and 240 bpm
  • Absent
  • Hidden in QRS
  • Absent
  • Narrow complexes (< 0.12 s)
Premature Atrial Contractrions (PAC)[10][11]
  • Regular except when disturbed by premature beat(s)
  • 80-120 bpm
  • Upright
  • > 0.12 second
  • May be shorter than that in normal sinus rhythm (NSR) if the origin of PAC is located closer to the AV node
  • Ashman’s Phenomenon:
  • Usually narrow (< 0.12 s)
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome[12][13]
  • Regular
  • Atrial rate is nearly 300 bpm and ventricular rate is at 150 bpm
  • Less than 0.12 seconds
  • A delta wave and evidence of ventricular pre-excitation if there is conduction to the ventricle via ante-grade conduction down an accessory pathway
  • A delta wave and pre-excitation may not be present because bypass tracts do not conduct ante-grade.
Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)[14][15][16]
  • Irregular
  • 150 to 500 bpm
  • Absent
  • Absent
  • Absent (R on T phenomenon in the setting of ischemia)
Ventricular Tachycardia[17][18]
  • Regular
  • > 100 bpm (150-200 bpm common)
  • Absent

  • Absent
  • Initial R wave in V1, initial r > 40 ms in V1/V2, notched S in V1, initial R in aVR, lead II R wave peak time ≥50 ms, no RS in V1-V6, and atrioventricular dissociation
  • Wide complex, QRS duration > 120 milliseconds
  • 5-10% of patients presenting with AMI

The table below provides information on the differential diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia in terms of ECG appearance:

Disease Name Causes ECG Characteristics ECG view
Ventricular tachycardia [19][20][21][22][23]
[24]
Ventricular fibrillation [17][25][26][27]
[28]
Ventricular flutter [29][30][31]
[32]
Asystole [33][34]
  • There is no electrical activity in the asystole
[35]
Pulseless electrical activity [36][37]
[38]
Torsade de Pointes [39][40][41]
  1. Paroxysms of VT with irregular RR intervals.
  2. A ventricular rate between 200 and 250 beats per minute.
  3. Two or more cycles of QRS complexes with alternating polarity.
  4. Changing amplitude of the QRS complexes in each cycle in a sinusoidal fashion.
  5. Prolongation of the QT interval.
  6. Is often initiated by a PVC with a long coupling interval, R on T phenomenon.
  7. There are usually 5 to 20 complexes in each cycle.
[42]

References

  1. Lankveld TA, Zeemering S, Crijns HJ, Schotten U (July 2014). “The ECG as a tool to determine atrial fibrillation complexity”. Heart. 100 (14): 1077–84. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2013-305149. PMID 24837984.
  2. Harris K, Edwards D, Mant J (2012). “How can we best detect atrial fibrillation?”. J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 42 Suppl 18: 5–22. doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2012.S02. PMID 22518390.
  3. Cosío FG (June 2017). “Atrial Flutter, Typical and Atypical: A Review”. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev. 6 (2): 55–62. doi:10.15420/aer.2017.5.2. PMC 5522718. PMID 28835836.
  4. Katritsis DG, Josephson ME (August 2016). “Classification, Electrophysiological Features and Therapy of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia”. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev. 5 (2): 130–5. doi:10.15420/AER.2016.18.2. PMC 5013176. PMID 27617092.
  5. Letsas KP, Weber R, Siklody CH, Mihas CC, Stockinger J, Blum T, Kalusche D, Arentz T (April 2010). “Electrocardiographic differentiation of common type atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia from atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia via a concealed accessory pathway”. Acta Cardiol. 65 (2): 171–6. doi:10.2143/AC.65.2.2047050. PMID 20458824.
  6. “Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia (AVNRT) – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf”.
  7. Schernthaner C, Danmayr F, Strohmer B (2014). “Coexistence of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia with other forms of arrhythmias”. Med Princ Pract. 23 (6): 543–50. doi:10.1159/000365418. PMC 5586929. PMID 25196716.
  8. Scher DL, Arsura EL (September 1989). “Multifocal atrial tachycardia: mechanisms, clinical correlates, and treatment”. Am. Heart J. 118 (3): 574–80. doi:10.1016/0002-8703(89)90275-5. PMID 2570520.
  9. Goodacre S, Irons R (March 2002). “ABC of clinical electrocardiography: Atrial arrhythmias”. BMJ. 324 (7337): 594–7. doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7337.594. PMC 1122515. PMID 11884328.
  10. Lin CY, Lin YJ, Chen YY, Chang SL, Lo LW, Chao TF, Chung FP, Hu YF, Chong E, Cheng HM, Tuan TC, Liao JN, Chiou CW, Huang JL, Chen SA (August 2015). “Prognostic Significance of Premature Atrial Complexes Burden in Prediction of Long-Term Outcome”. J Am Heart Assoc. 4 (9): e002192. doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.002192. PMC 4599506. PMID 26316525.
  11. Strasburger JF, Cheulkar B, Wichman HJ (December 2007). “Perinatal arrhythmias: diagnosis and management”. Clin Perinatol. 34 (4): 627–52, vii–viii. doi:10.1016/j.clp.2007.10.002. PMC 3310372. PMID 18063110.
  12. Rao AL, Salerno JC, Asif IM, Drezner JA (July 2014). “Evaluation and management of wolff-Parkinson-white in athletes”. Sports Health. 6 (4): 326–32. doi:10.1177/1941738113509059. PMC 4065555. PMID 24982705.
  13. Rosner MH, Brady WJ, Kefer MP, Martin ML (November 1999). “Electrocardiography in the patient with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: diagnostic and initial therapeutic issues”. Am J Emerg Med. 17 (7): 705–14. doi:10.1016/s0735-6757(99)90167-5. PMID 10597097.
  14. Glinge C, Sattler S, Jabbari R, Tfelt-Hansen J (September 2016). “Epidemiology and genetics of ventricular fibrillation during acute myocardial infarction”. J Geriatr Cardiol. 13 (9): 789–797. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2016.09.006. PMC 5122505. PMID 27899944.
  15. Samie FH, Jalife J (May 2001). “Mechanisms underlying ventricular tachycardia and its transition to ventricular fibrillation in the structurally normal heart”. Cardiovasc. Res. 50 (2): 242–50. doi:10.1016/s0008-6363(00)00289-3. PMID 11334828.
  16. Adabag AS, Luepker RV, Roger VL, Gersh BJ (April 2010). “Sudden cardiac death: epidemiology and risk factors”. Nat Rev Cardiol. 7 (4): 216–25. doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2010.3. PMC 5014372. PMID 20142817.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Koplan BA, Stevenson WG (March 2009). “Ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death”. Mayo Clin. Proc. 84 (3): 289–97. doi:10.1016/S0025-6196(11)61149-X. PMC 2664600. PMID 19252119.
  18. Levis JT (2011). “ECG Diagnosis: Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia”. Perm J. 15 (1): 65. doi:10.7812/tpp/10-130. PMC 3048638. PMID 21505622.
  19. Ajijola, Olujimi A.; Tung, Roderick; Shivkumar, Kalyanam (2014). “Ventricular tachycardia in ischemic heart disease substrates”. Indian Heart Journal. 66: S24–S34. doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2013.12.039. ISSN 0019-4832.
  20. Meja Lopez, Eliany; Malhotra, Rohit (2019). “Ventricular Tachycardia in Structural Heart Disease”. Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management. 10 (8): 3762–3773. doi:10.19102/icrm.2019.100801. ISSN 2156-3977.
  21. Coughtrie, Abigail L; Behr, Elijah R; Layton, Deborah; Marshall, Vanessa; Camm, A John; Shakir, Saad A W (2017). “Drugs and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia risk: results from the DARE study cohort”. BMJ Open. 7 (10): e016627. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016627. ISSN 2044-6055.
  22. El-Sherif, Nabil (2001). “Mechanism of Ventricular Arrhythmias in the Long QT Syndrome: On Hermeneutics”. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 12 (8): 973–976. doi:10.1046/j.1540-8167.2001.00973.x. ISSN 1045-3873.
  23. de Riva, Marta; Watanabe, Masaya; Zeppenfeld, Katja (2015). “Twelve-Lead ECG of Ventricular Tachycardia in Structural Heart Disease”. Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. 8 (4): 951–962. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.115.002847. ISSN 1941-3149.
  24. ECG found in of https://en.ecgpedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
  25. Maury P, Sacher F, Rollin A, Mondoly P, Duparc A, Zeppenfeld K, Hascoet S (May 2017). “Ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death in tetralogy of Fallot”. Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 110 (5): 354–362. doi:10.1016/j.acvd.2016.12.006. PMID 28222965.
  26. Saumarez RC, Camm AJ, Panagos A, Gill JS, Stewart JT, de Belder MA, Simpson IA, McKenna WJ (August 1992). “Ventricular fibrillation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with increased fractionation of paced right ventricular electrograms”. Circulation. 86 (2): 467–74. doi:10.1161/01.cir.86.2.467. PMID 1638716.
  27. Bektas, Firat; Soyuncu, Secgin (2012). “Hypokalemia-induced Ventricular Fibrillation”. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 42 (2): 184–185. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2010.05.079. ISSN 0736-4679.
  28. ECG found in https://en.ecgpedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
  29. Thies, Karl-Christian; Boos, Karin; Müller-Deile, Kai; Ohrdorf, Wolfgang; Beushausen, Thomas; Townsend, Peter (2000). “Ventricular flutter in a neonate—severe electrolyte imbalance caused by urinary tract infection in the presence of urinary tract malformation”. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 18 (1): 47–50. doi:10.1016/S0736-4679(99)00161-4. ISSN 0736-4679.
  30. Koster, Rudolph W.; Wellens, Hein J.J. (1976). “Quinidine-induced ventricular flutter and fibrillation without digitalis therapy”. The American Journal of Cardiology. 38 (4): 519–523. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(76)90471-9. ISSN 0002-9149.
  31. Dhurandhar RW, Nademanee K, Goldman AM (1978). “Ventricular tachycardia-flutter associated with disopyramide therapy: a report of three cases”. Heart Lung. 7 (5): 783–7. PMID 250503.
  32. ECG found in https://en.ecgpedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
  33. ACLS: Principles and Practice. p. 71-87. Dallas: American Heart Association, 2003. ISBN 0-87493-341-2.
  34. ACLS for Experienced Providers. p. 3-5. Dallas: American Heart Association, 2003. ISBN 0-87493-424-9.
  35. ECG found in https://en.ecgpedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
  36. “2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care – Part 7.2: Management of Cardiac Arrest.” Circulation 2005; 112: IV-58 – IV-66.
  37. Foster B, Twelve Lead Electrocardiography, 2nd edition, 2007
  38. ECG found in wikimedia Commons
  39. Li M, Ramos LG (July 2017). “Drug-Induced QT Prolongation And Torsades de Pointes”. P T. 42 (7): 473–477. PMC 5481298. PMID 28674475.
  40. Sharain, Korosh; May, Adam M.; Gersh, Bernard J. (2015). “Chronic Alcoholism and the Danger of Profound Hypomagnesemia”. The American Journal of Medicine. 128 (12): e17–e18. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.06.051. ISSN 0002-9343.
  41. Khan IA (2001). “Twelve-lead electrocardiogram of torsades de pointes”. Tex Heart Inst J. 28 (1): 69. PMC 101137. PMID 11330748.
  42. ECG found in https://en.ecgpedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

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Epidemiology and Demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Homa Najafi, M.D.[2]Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [3]

Overview

The prevalence of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) varies between 100 to 400 per 100,000 individuals worldwide on standard 12-lead electrocardiography and 4000 to 7500 per 100,000 individuals on 24- to 48-hour Holter monitoring. Patients of all age groups may develop PVC and the incidence increases with age. African- American individuals are more likely to develop PVCs. Men are more commonly developed the disease than women.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Prevalence

Age

Race

  • African- American individuals are more likely to develop PVCs.[4]

Gender

References

  1. Ng, G A. (2006). “Treating patients with ventricular ectopic beats”. Heart. 92 (11): 1707–1712. doi:10.1136/hrt.2005.067843. ISSN 1355-6037.
  2. Kennedy, Harold L.; Whitlock, James A.; Sprague, Michael K.; Kennedy, Lisa J.; Buckingham, Thomas A.; Goldberg, Robert J. (1985). “Long-Term Follow-up of Asymptomatic Healthy Subjects with Frequent and Complex Ventricular Ectopy”. New England Journal of Medicine. 312 (4): 193–197. doi:10.1056/NEJM198501243120401. ISSN 0028-4793.
  3. “ACC/AHA/HRS 2006 Key Data Elements and Definitions for Electrophysiological Studies and Procedures”. Circulation. 114 (23): 2534–2570. 2006. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.180199. ISSN 0009-7322.
  4. Simpson, Ross J.; Cascio, Wayne E.; Schreiner, Pamela J.; Crow, Richard S.; Rautaharju, Pentti M.; Heiss, Gerardo (2002). “Prevalence of premature ventricular contractions in a population of African American and white men and women: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study”. American Heart Journal. 143 (3): 535–540. doi:10.1067/mhj.2002.120298. ISSN 0002-8703.

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Risk Factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[2] Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [3] Homa Najafi, M.D.[4]

Overview

Premature ventricular contraction can occur due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the common risk factors are anxiety, physiological stress etc. Patient with copper deficiency are also prone to PVCs.

Risk Factors


Overview

There are no established risk factors for [disease name].

OR

The most potent risk factor in the development of [disease name] is [risk factor 1]. Other risk factors include [risk factor 2], [risk factor 3], and [risk factor 4].

OR

Common risk factors in the development of [disease name] include [risk factor 1], [risk factor 2], [risk factor 3], and [risk factor 4].

OR

Common risk factors in the development of [disease name] may be occupational, environmental, genetic, and viral.

Risk Factors

There are no established risk factors for [disease name].

OR

The most potent risk factor in the development of [disease name] is [risk factor 1]. Other risk factors include [risk factor 2], [risk factor 3], and [risk factor 4].

OR

Common risk factors in the development of [disease name] include [risk factor 1], [risk factor 2], [risk factor 3], and [risk factor 4].

Common Risk Factors

  • Common risk factors in the development of [disease name] may be occupational, environmental, genetic, and viral.
  • Common risk factors in the development of [disease name] include:
    • [Risk factor 1]
    • [Risk factor 2]
    • [Risk factor 3]

Less Common Risk Factors

  • Less common risk factors in the development of [disease name] include:
    • [Risk factor 1]
    • [Risk factor 2]
    • [Risk factor 3]


References

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Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [2] Radwa AbdElHaras Mohamed AbouZaied, M.B.B.S[3]

Overview

Premature ventricular contraction caries no risk of mortality in the absence of any underlying heart disease. Heart rate turbulence is a phenomenon representing the return to equilibrium of the heart rate after a PVC. These parameters correlate significantly with mortality after myocardial infarction.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

  • In the absence of ischemic heart disease (CAD) or hypertension (HTN), there is no excess risk of mortality in patients with PVCs.
  • On the other hand, PVCs in the presence of structural cardiac abnormalities or hypertension is associated with twice the expected mortality.
  • The development of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) is most likely among those patients with greater than 12 PVCs/min, couplets, and multifocal PVCs.
  • Complex ventricular ectopic activity (VEA) during acute phase of STEMI does not have any prognostic significance.
  • Their presence 2 to 3 weeks after acute MI is associated with a 3 fold increase in the risk of sudden death.
  1. Healthy patients
    • The most common arrhythmia in patients with and without CAD.
    • Less common in infants and children, more common in the elderly.
    • Usually originate from the RV.
    • In normal patients, they may be either precipitated or suppressed by exercise.
    • No relationship to coffee or smoking has been established.
    • Frequency decreases with sleep.
  2. Coronary artery disease
    • Routine ECGs demonstrate PVCs in 10% of patients with CAD.
    • Incidence inreases to 60 to 88% when the monitoring is increased to 12 to 24 hours.
    • The frequency of complex VEA increases with increasing numbers of vessels involved. (40% with one, 53% with two, and 78% with three vessels involved has VEA).
    • Patients with CAD are more prone to develop VEA with exercise (incidence 4 times higher than age matched controls).
    • Reported incidence in acute MI varies, but is near 100%.
    • After the initial 6 hours, the frequency decreases.
    • Persistence of VEA is associated with larger infarct size.
    • In one study, patients with EFs of greater than 50% had no persistent VEA, and patients with EFs of less than 30% had frequent PVCs.
  3. Other Organic Heart Diseases:
    • Occur on routine EKG in 1/3rd of patients.
    • 12% of patients with congested cardiomyopathy have PVC on routine tracings.
    • 1.6% of patients with IHSS have PVCs on routine EKG.
  4. Drugs:
    • PVCs are the most common arrhythmia in patients with digoxin toxicity.
    • Other drugs that cause PVCs are quinidine, PCA, norpace, phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants.
  5. Electrolyte Imbalance:

Overview

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for [disease/malignancy].

OR

According to the [guideline name], screening for [disease name] is not recommended.

OR

According to the [guideline name], screening for [disease name] by [test 1] is recommended every [duration] among patients with [condition 1], [condition 2], and [condition 3].

Screening

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for [disease/malignancy].

OR

According to the [guideline name], screening for [disease name] is not recommended.

OR

According to the [guideline name], screening for [disease name] by [test 1] is recommended every [duration] among patients with:

  • [Condition 1]
  • [Condition 2]
  • [Condition 3]


References

  1. Chou’s Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice Third Edition, pp. 398-409.
  2. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:194 ISBN 1591032016

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Diagnosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Electrocardiogram | EKG Examples | Chest X Ray | Echocardiography | Cardiac MRI | Coronary Angiography

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Electrical Cardioversion | Ablation | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case #1

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