Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison	Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Heart, section through the middle	Heart, front view	Electrocardiogram (ECG)

---

Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

---

Ectopic heartbeat

Alternative Names

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

Treatment

Often ectopic heartbeats do not require treatment. The condition is treated if symptoms are severe or if extra beats are very frequent.

An underlying cause, if discovered, may also require treatment.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Ectopic heartbeats are generally benign, requiring no treatment. Ocasionally, they may indicate an increased risk for other cardiac arrhythmias.

Possible Complications

• ventricular tachycardia (occasionally)
• other arrhythmias (occasionally)

Note: There usually are no complications.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you feel palpitations that are persistent or are accompanied by chest pain or other symptoms.

Call your health care provider if ectopic heartbeats have been diagnosed and the symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment.

Review Date: 4/27/2004
Reviewed By: Fabian Arnaldo, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

_{The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.}