What is ventricular trigeminy?

What is ventricular trigeminy?

• A. A PVC following every two normal cycles
• B. Three consecutive PVCs
• C. A PVC that occurs after one normal cycle
• D. A series of normal cycles with no PVCs

Answer: (A)

Ventricular trigeminy is characterized by a specific pattern of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in relation to normal heartbeats. In this context, the correct answer describes this pattern accurately: a PVC occurs after every two normal heartbeats, creating a consistent cycle of normal and abnormal signals.

To put it into perspective, in ventricular trigeminy, you would observe a sequence where, after two normal heartbeats (which conform to a regular rhythm), a PVC interrupts the sequence. This means the overall rhythm involves a repeating cycle of two normal beats followed by one PVC, making the rhythm appear as a triad: normal-normal-PVC.

Understanding this pattern is crucial for diagnosing and interpreting the underlying rhythm and its potential implications for cardiac health. The other definitions provided do not accurately describe the specific pattern of ventricular trigeminy and can lead to misconceptions about how PVCs interact with the normal cycling of the heart.