Interní Med. 2014; 16(3): 123-126

When and how to treat ventricular extrasystoles in an internist's practice

MUDr.Ondřej Moravec, MUDr.Tomáš Skála Ph.D., doc.MUDr.Petr Heinc, Ph.D.

I. interní klinika &ndash, kardiologická, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

Ventricular extrasystoles are premature ventricular contractions resulting from electrical depolarization from an ectopic centre in the

myocardium below the level of the bundle of His. They are the most frequent ventricular arrhythmias in the population. They occur both

in patients with no organic heart disease and in those with various heart diseases. The vast majority are of a benign nature, thus requiring

no treatment. In a proportion of patients, extrasystoles are perceived subjectively as very unpleasant and, in a small proportion,

frequent ventricular extrasystole can even lead to left ventricular dysfunction – tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. These groups

of patients require therapeutic intervention. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of comprehensive care of a patient with

ventricular extrasystole.

Keywords: ventricular extrasystoles, tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy

Published: May 26, 2014  Show citation