Ectopic beats (ventricular)

Question 1

Ectopic beats (ventricular): Definition

Answer 1

• Ectopic beats are common, they’re extra beats which arise out of the normal sequence from either atria or ventricle.
• They can occur in runs in couplets / triplets or alternatively if in the pattern of ectopic-normal-ectopic-normal then its called bigeminy.
• Ectopic beats are considered normal and are not indicative of cardiac pathology.
• Ectopic beats often remain undetected and occur as part of minor errors in the heart conduction system.

Question 2

Ectopic beats (ventricular): Aetiology

Answer 2

• ectopic foci (ie. ectopic pacemakers, which are just any non SA node cells that cause premature heart beats) within either ventricular or atrial myocardium, or from finer branches of the electric transduction system, cause additional beats of the heart.
• Ectopic beats are considered normal and are not indicative of cardiac pathology.
• Ectopic beats often remain undetected and occur as part of minor errors in the heart conduction system.
• Some medications may worsen the phenomenon.

Question 3

Ectopic beats (ventricular): Cinical manifestations: key presentations, other symptoms and signs

Answer 3

• Pretty much asymptomatic - maybe tachycardia due to increased number of heart beats? (I’m guessing this)
• Ectopic beats are considered normal and are not indicative of cardiac pathology.
• Ectopic beats often remain undetected and occur as part of minor errors in the heart conduction system.

Question 4

Ectopic beats (ventricular): Investigations (diagnosis): 1st line, gold standard & other

Answer 4

• What it says on the jar
• See attatched picture

Question 5

Ectopic beats (ventricular): Complications

Answer 5

• A high burden of VEB can cause heart failure but acute events should be uneventfull