Ventricular bigeminy must be assessed rapidly because it can progress to which dangerous arrhythmias?

Ventricular bigeminy must be assessed rapidly because it can progress to which dangerous arrhythmias?

• A. Torsades de pointes
• B. Ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation
• C. Atrial fibrillation
• D. Sinus tachycardia

Answer: (B)

Ventricular bigeminy shows that the ventricles are irritable, with a premature ventricular contraction alternating with a normal beat. This pattern signals a heightened risk that the ectopic activity can escalate into a more dangerous ventricular rhythm. When a PVC occurs in a susceptible heart, it can trigger sustained ventricular tachycardia or progress to ventricular fibrillation, both of which severely compromise cardiac output and require urgent intervention. Torsades de pointes is a serious rhythm linked to a prolonged QT interval, not the direct, typical progression from ventricular ectopy. Atrial fibrillation and sinus tachycardia originate from the atria or the SA node and do not represent progression from ventricular bigeminy.

Ventricular bigeminy shows that the ventricles are irritable, with a premature ventricular contraction alternating with a normal beat. This pattern signals a heightened risk that the ectopic activity can escalate into a more dangerous ventricular rhythm. When a PVC occurs in a susceptible heart, it can trigger sustained ventricular tachycardia or progress to ventricular fibrillation, both of which severely compromise cardiac output and require urgent intervention.

Torsades de pointes is a serious rhythm linked to a prolonged QT interval, not the direct, typical progression from ventricular ectopy. Atrial fibrillation and sinus tachycardia originate from the atria or the SA node and do not represent progression from ventricular bigeminy.