What term describes a premature ventricular contraction?

• A. Premature ventricular contractions
• B. Atrial tachycardia
• C. Supraventricular tachycardia
• D. Ventricular tachycardia

Answer: (A)

Premature ventricular contractions are isolated, early heartbeats that originate in the ventricles rather than following the normal conduction path. They show up as a wide QRS complex that occurs sooner than the next expected beat, often without a preceding P wave and followed by a compensatory pause. This term precisely describes the phenomenon of an early ventricular beat, making it the best choice. It’s distinct from atrial tachycardia, which starts in the atria and produces a rapid rhythm; supraventricular tachycardia, which is a rapid rhythm arising above the ventricles; and ventricular tachycardia, which is a rapid rhythm originating in the ventricles and typically sustained rather than a single premature beat. PVCs can be harmless in healthy people or signal underlying issues like electrolyte imbalance, ischemia, or structural heart disease when frequent.