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Ectopic heartbeat    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

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

Definition:

An irregularity of the heart rate and heart rhythm involving extra or skipped heartbeats.

Causes and Risks

Ectopic heartbeats are an arrhythmia involving small variations in an otherwise normal heartbeat. They may, in many cases, be without observable cause and are often benign.

Other times, they are associated with electrolyte abnormalities in the blood which should be corrected, or with ischemia. They may be caused or aggravated by excessive smoking, alcohol consumption, or caffeine.

PVC's are rare in children other than children with congenital heart disease. The majority of extra heartbeats in children are PAC's (premature atrial contractions), which are almost always benign. In adults they can occur more commonly and underlying reversible reasons should be investigated even if no treatment is actually initiated.

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