A premature ventricular contraction is often followed by what?

A premature ventricular contraction is often followed by what?

• A. A compensatory pause.
• B. A second premature beat immediately.
• C. A longer QT interval.
• D. A drop in heart rate.

Answer: (A)

A premature ventricular contraction disrupts the normal rhythm with an early, wide QRS from a ventricular focus. Because that beat occurs early, the usual pacing pattern isn’t immediately resumed, so there’s a pause before the next normal beat. This pause is called a compensatory pause, and it’s typically longer than a normal RR interval to allow the ventricles to fill adequately before the next beat. The next normal impulse then resumes on schedule, which is why the compensatory pause is what follows a PVC. The other options don’t fit as the immediate consequence: you don’t expect another premature beat right after, the QT interval isn’t inherently lengthened by a single PVC, and a general drop in heart rate isn’t the characteristic aftereffect.

A premature ventricular contraction disrupts the normal rhythm with an early, wide QRS from a ventricular focus. Because that beat occurs early, the usual pacing pattern isn’t immediately resumed, so there’s a pause before the next normal beat. This pause is called a compensatory pause, and it’s typically longer than a normal RR interval to allow the ventricles to fill adequately before the next beat. The next normal impulse then resumes on schedule, which is why the compensatory pause is what follows a PVC. The other options don’t fit as the immediate consequence: you don’t expect another premature beat right after, the QT interval isn’t inherently lengthened by a single PVC, and a general drop in heart rate isn’t the characteristic aftereffect.