The Management of Patients with Premature Ventricular Contractions

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) occur frequently in patients with virtually all types of cardiac disease and in persons without evidence of cardiac disease. Since PVCs and advanced grades of PVCs are known to be predictors for ventricular fibrillation, increased mortality, and sudden death in certain clinical settings, the management of patients with PVCs is frequently based on the clinical setting in which they occur. For the purpose of this talk we will discuss the treatment of PVCs in the following three instances: acute myocardial infarction in the coronary care unit, post-myocardial infarction patients, and persons without any evidence of organic heart disease