Ventricular Parasystole

Created by team@ekgdx.com on Dec. 13, 2023

Let’s talk about Ventricular Parasystole

Parasystole is characterized by competition between two different foci usually the sinus node and an ectopic atrial or ventricular focus, which independently initiate cardiac impulses at different rates. More frequently the ectopic focus arises from the ventricles.

Ventricular Parasystole is when the ectopic focus is from the ventricles, in which the pacemaker is not altered by the impulses coming from the dominant sinus pacemaker. Parasystolic pacemakers are protected from depolarization by the mechanisms of entrance block, which can be complete or incomplete.

Criteria

  • Variable coupling interval between dominant sinus rhythm and the parasystolic rhythm.
  • Constant interectopic interval and/or can be a multiple (2X, 3X, etc.) of the shorter interectopic interval. 
  • PVCs have uniform morphology but some times fusion beats may occur. 

Note: Coupling interval is considered the interval between sinus complex and the PVC

Note: The interectopic interval is considered the interval between the PVCs. 

 

 

Note that the interectopic interval is a multiple (2X) of the shorter interectopic interval with variable coupling interval. 

 

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References

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Dr. Roig

Ventricular Parasystole