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Ectopic heartbeat - Symptom

Alternative Names

PVB (premature ventricular beat); Premature ventricular contraction; Premature beats; PVC (premature ventricular contraction); Extrasystole

Symptoms:

Symptoms include:

Feeling your heart beat (palpitations)
Feeling like your heart stopped or skipped a beat
Feeling of occasional, forceful beats

Note: There may be no symptoms.

Signs and tests:

A physical examination may show an occasional, irregular pulse, but if the ectopic beats do not occur frequently, your doctor may not detect them during a physical exam.

Blood pressure is usually normal.

The following tests may be done:

Continuous ambulatory cardiac monitoring (Holter monitor or patient-activated recording device)
Coronary angiography
ECG
Echocardiogram

Heart, section through the middle

Heart, front view

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Reviewed last on: 6/7/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Olgin JE. Approach to the Patient with Suspected Arrhythmias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap. 61.

Toth PP, Shammas NW, Dippel EJ, Foreman B. Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmias. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007:chap. 39.

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