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Diagnosis of Premature Ventricular Complexes: Common and Often Forgotten Rules

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Diana J. Jansen ,
Nancy E. Robinson  and
Marvin L. Birnbaum
Diana J. Jansen
Affiliation:
Prehospital Training Division, Emergency Medical Services Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nancy E. Robinson
Affiliation:
Prehospital Training Division, Emergency Medical Services Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Marvin L. Birnbaum
Affiliation:
Prehospital Training Division, Emergency Medical Services Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Extract

Prehospital and hospital emergency medical care providers frequently rely on the electrocardiogram (ECG) to assist them in the differential diagnosis of complex patient problems and as such, the ECG often constitutes a major determinant of the definitive treatment selected. The purpose of this exercise is to review a small portion of the vast area of ECG interpretation: specifically, those rules that guide the practitioner in the diagnosis of Premature Ventricular Complexes (PVCs).

Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) occur in multiple individuals in multiple settings. Due to these differences, the causes, implications, and treatment of PVCs must be individualized. Thus, the scope possible for this discussion is huge. Consequently, this exercise will focus only on helping the practitioner correctly identify PVCs.

Type
Collective Review
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , March 1991 , pp. 47 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1991

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