Premature ventricular contraction
Topic: Medical-surgical
An early beat that starts in a ventricle instead of the sinus node: it has a wide, bizarre QRS and is usually followed by a pause. Occasional PVCs are common and often harmless; frequent, paired or differently shaped PVCs signal a more serious problem, such as heart failure or an electrolyte imbalance (e.g., low potassium or magnesium), or come from caffeine, energy drinks or alcohol; a PVC that falls on the T wave (R-on-T) can trigger ventricular tachycardia. Assess for low blood pressure and dizziness, review potassium and magnesium, and report rising PVC frequency.
- Also known as:
- PVC, Ventricular premature beat, Ventricular ectopic beat
- In Turkish:
- Ventriküler erken atım
What does Premature ventricular contraction mean?
Premature ventricular contraction is part of the Medical-surgical topic in nursing. Students meet it in class, on clinical placements and while preparing for exams.
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