Premature Ventricular Contractions

ECG Features

Figure 1: ECG Strip[1]

A premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is "a premature beat arising from an ectopic focus within the ventricles."[2] Premature contractions are classified by their origin: atrial (PACs), junctional (PJCs), or ventricular (PVCs).

Table 1: ECG Characteristics[3]

Clinical Significance[2]

  • PVCs are a normal electrophysiological phenomenon and rarely require treatment.
  • Recurrent PVCs can cause palpitations and "a sense of the heart 'skipping a beat.' "
  • PVCs can trigger the onset of Ventricular Tachycardia in patients with underlying predispositions, such as ischaemic heart disease and WPW.

ECM Features

Figure 2: ECM Analysis, Record 205[4][5]

ECM Examples

1. Additional Examples of PVCs (32)

2. Interpolated PVCs

Figure 3: Record 108[4][5]

Figure 4: Record 123[4][5]

3. Isolated PVC

Figure 5: Record 208[4][5]

4. Late-cycle PVC

Figure 6: Record 114[4][5]

5. Multiform PVCs

Figure 7: Record 106[4][5]

Figure 8: Record 214[4][5]

Additional Information

References

  1. Premature ventricular contractions [Online image]. (2010). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from http://medlibes.com/entry/premature-ventricular-contractions
  2. Premature Ventricular Complex (PVC). (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2016, from http://lifeinthefastlane.com/ecg-library/basics/pvc/
  3. Premature Ventricular Complex. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2016, from http://www.practicalclinicalskills.com/ekg-reference-guide-details?lessonID=23
  4. MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database. (1980). Retrieved June, 2016, from https://physionet.org/physiobank/database/mitdb/
  5. Goldberger AL, Amaral LAN, Glass L, Hausdorff JM, Ivanov PCh, Mark RG, Mietus JE, Moody GB, Peng C-K, Stanley HE. PhysioBank, PhysioToolkit, and PhysioNet: Components of a New Research Resource for Complex Physiologic Signals. Circulation101(23):e215-e220 [Circulation Electronic Pages;http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/101/23/e215]; 2000 (June 13).