Epidemiology
Etiology
- Electrolyte imbalances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia)
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Drugs (e.g., digoxin)
Pathophysiology
- The extra, abnormal heartbeats in PVC are caused by ectopic foci within the ventricles.
- ↓ Diastolic filling time → ↓ stroke volume
Clinical features
Diagnostics
ECG
- QRS duration ≥ 120 ms with a blocklike QRS morphology
- There is no P wave before a premature QRS complex.
- Compensatory pause after the PVC