Ventricular extrasystoles

What are ventricular extrasystoles?

Ventricular extrasystoles (abbr. KES) arise as a result of premature activation of the heart chambers. They can occur in otherwise completely healthy persons, where they are a relatively minor finding, but in some cases they are a manifestation of damage to the heart muscle. They manifest themselves as skips of the heart, irregular heartbeat, missing beats, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc. They are often detected completely randomly only in the EKG recording.

What causes ventricular extrasystoles?

Ventricular extrasystoles can occur in an otherwise healthy heart as a result of increased activity of a cluster of cells in the heart chambers or as a result of damage to the heart muscle – in people after a myocardial infarction, in congenital heart defects, valvular defects, heart failure, etc. They occur more often in people with high blood pressure .

What are the risks of ventricular extrasystoles?

If they occur in an otherwise healthy heart and there is no known genetic heart disease in the family, their prognosis is generally good, but a large number of premature ventricular contractions can lead to the development of heart failure in some predisposed individuals. They are significant in patients with other heart diseases, when they can be a sign of a worsened prognosis.

What is the treatment for ventricular extrasystoles?

In asymptomatic persons with normal heart function, they usually do not require treatment, only monitoring. In the case of the development of symptoms, drugs – so-called anti-arrhythmics (eg beta-blockers) are administered to suppress them. The aim is to treat the underlying heart disease (valvular defect, heart failure, etc.) that leads to extrasystoles. Symptomatic and numerous ventricular extrasystoles can also be effectively resolved with the help of catheter ablation, i.e. a special procedure where a deposit in the heart is found, from which extrasystoles arise prematurely, and it is subsequently removed.

What can I do if I have been diagnosed with ventricular extrasystoles?

The finding of ventricular extrasystoles should be consulted with a cardiologist. Based on objective information (12-lead ECG, echocardiography, in some cases magnetic resonance of the heart), he will assess the number of extrasystoles, their nature and the risk arising from them, and whether it is appropriate to start treatment or just monitor the patient.