A ventricular premature beat (ventricular ectopic beat, premature ventricular contraction) is an extra heartbeat resulting from abnormal electrical activation originating in the ventricles before a normal heartbeat would occur.

• The main symptom is a perception of a skipped heartbeat.
• Electrocardiography is used to make the diagnosis.
• Avoiding things that trigger these beats, such as stress, caffeine, and alcohol, is usually sufficient treatment.

ECG: Ventricular Premature Beats

Ventricular premature beats are common, particularly among older people. This arrhythmia may be caused by physical or emotional stress, intake of caffeine (in beverages and foods) or alcohol, or use of cold or hay fever remedies containing drugs that stimulate the heart, such as pseudoephedrineSome Trade Names
AFRINOL SUDAFED
. Other causes include coronary artery disease (especially during or shortly after a heart attack) and disorders that cause ventricles to enlarge, such as heart failure and heart valve disorders.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Isolated ventricular premature beats have little effect on the pumping action of the heart and usually do not cause symptoms, unless they are extremely frequent. The main symptom is the perception of a strong or skipped beat. Ventricular premature beats are not dangerous for people who do not have a heart disorder. However, when they occur frequently in people who have a structural heart disorder (such as a heart valve disorder or a heart attack), they may be followed by more dangerous arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, which can cause sudden death.

Electrocardiography (ECG—see Diagnosis of Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders: Electrocardiography) is used to diagnose ventricular premature beats.

Treatment

In an otherwise healthy person, no treatment is needed other than decreasing stress and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and over-the-counter cold or hay fever remedies containing drugs that stimulate the heart. Drug therapy is rarely used because the risk of side effects from the drugs is usually greater than the benefit. The exception is people who recently had a heart attack or who have heart failure that causes symptoms. In such people, survival is improved if they are treated with beta-blockers.

Last full review/revision November 2012 by L. Brent Mitchell, MD