Premature Ventricular Complex ECG

ECG Strip

Premature Ventricular Complex Rhythm Strip Features

Rate: The underlying rate
Rhythm: Irregular
P Wave: Absent
PR Interval: Not measurable
QRS: Wide (> 0.10 sec), bizarre appearance
An impulse causes an early cardiac complex which disrupts the underlying rhythm. The locus of stimulation being different, results in a change in the morphology of the cardiac complex. Note the absence of P wave and the wide, bizarre QRS complex. PVC’s can occur occasionally or frequently. PVC’s can be observed with or without a pattern
Premature ventricular contraction couplets are extra, abnormal heartbeats that originating the Purkinje fibers of the ventricles. The PVC occur in pairs. Patients may feel a PVC as a skipped beat or palpitation. Single beat premature ventricular contractions are very common and can often be asymptomatic in healthy patients. PVCs are also called premature ventricular complexes. Premature ventricular contraction (PVCs) are extra, abnormal heartbeats that originating the Purkinje fibers of the ventricles. Patients may feel a PVC as a skipped beat or palpitation. Single beat premature ventricular contractions are very common and can often be asymptomatic in healthy patients. PVCs are also called premature ventricular complexes.
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Authors and Sources

Authors and Reviewers

ECG heart rhythm modules: Thomas O'Brien.
ECG monitor simulation developer: Steve Collmann
12 Lead Course: Dr. Michael Mazzini, MD.
Spanish language ECG: Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH
Medical review: Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD
Medical review: Dr. Pedro Azevedo, MD, Cardiology
Last Update: 11/8/2021

Sources

Electrocardiography for Healthcare Professionals, 6th Edition Kathryn Booth and Thomas O'Brien
ISBN10: 1265013470, ISBN13: 9781265013479
McGraw Hill, 2023
Rapid Interpretation of EKG's, Sixth Edition
Dale Dublin
Cover Publishing Company
EKG Reference Guide
EKG.Academy
12 Lead EKG for Nurses: Simple Steps to Interpret Rhythms, Arrhythmias, Blocks, Hypertrophy, Infarcts, & Cardiac Drugs
Aaron Reed
Create Space Independent Publishing
Heart Sounds and Murmurs: A Practical Guide with Audio CD-ROM 3rd Edition
Elsevier-Health Sciences Division
Barbara A. Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN
The Virtual Cardiac Patient: A Multimedia Guide to Heart Sounds, Murmurs, EKG Jonathan Keroes, David Lieberman
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin)
ISBN-10: 0781784425; ISBN-13: 978-0781784429
Project Semilla, UCLA Emergency Medicine, EKG Training Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH
ECG Reference Guide
PracticalClinicalSkills.com