Ventricular Premature Complexes or Ventricular Tachycardia is an electrical disturbance, where the ventricular myocardium depolarizes at incorrect times.
These may be due to numerous etiologies, which include; cardiac disease, pericardial effusion, metabolic disease and electrolyte disturbances, tickborne disease, fever, pain, anemia, altered autonomic tone, trauma, sepsis, DIC, gastric dilatation with/without volvulus, splenic disease, hepatic disease, gastrointestinal disease, and pheochromocytoma.
The primary risk with this condition is an R-on-T phenomenon that can cause ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Antiarrhythmic therapy is utilized in certain cases to reduce the frequency of these abnormal beats.
Addressing the underlying condition is the best possible strategy; however, this still may not eliminate all abnormal activity.
Follow up electrocardiograms and 24 hour Holter Monitor examinations are necessary for patients with this arrhythmia to continue to optimize medical therapy.
