The Nature of ventricular ectopic beats in chronic ischaemic heart disease

Periodic 6- to 7-hour dynamic electrocardiographic studies were performed on 84 active postmyocardial infarction patients to evaluate frequency, persistency, configuration and coupling periods of ventricular ectopic beats (VEB). It was found that VEB were present in 73% on first evaluation, rising to 95% with subsequent studies. A method of classification of frequency of VEB is presented, and a comparison between the occurrence of VEB on routine resting ECGs and monitoring of ECG on magnetic tape, is made. The frequency of VEB of particular patients: stands to remain remarkably constant on subsequent study. Also a particular configuration of VEB tends to remain constant even over prolonged periods of time. Considering the observation that the longer the VEB are monitored the wider the variation in coupling periods, attempts at the differentiation of true ventricular extrasystole from ventricular parasystole met with little success. Considerable study needs to be done to elucidate the factors causing VEB to become manifest or to change in incidence. S. Afr. Med. J, 48, 1067 (1974)