A premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is "a premature beat arising from an ectopic focus within the ventricles."[2] Premature contractions are classified by their origin: atrial (PACs), junctional (PJCs), or ventricular (PVCs).
Table 1: ECG Characteristics[3]
Clinical Significance[2]
PVCs are a normal electrophysiological phenomenon and rarely require treatment.
Recurrent PVCs can cause palpitations and "a sense of the heart 'skipping a beat.' "
PVCs can trigger the onset of Ventricular Tachycardia in patients with underlying predispositions, such as ischaemic heart disease and WPW.