The patient on which you are about to perform an ECG tells you that she sometimes feels a "thumping" in her chest. Which of the following might you expect to see on the ECG tracing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can be associated with a sensation of a "thumping" or palpitations in the chest. They appear as wide and bizarre QRS complexes on the ECG tracing, occurring earlier than the expected normal rhythm. Ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation are more serious cardiac arrhythmias with potentially life-threatening consequences, and idioventricular rhythm is a slow rhythm arising from the ventricles. While these arrhythmias may also cause palpitations, they are not as commonly associated with the patient's complaint of a "thumping" sensation.

The Patient on Which You Are About to Perform an ECG