What is the medical term for a rhythm characterized by three or more consecutive premature ventricular contractions?

The medical term for a rhythm characterized by three or more consecutive premature ventricular contractions is ventricular tachycardia. This arrhythmia originates in the ventricles, which are the lower chambers of the heart, and is defined specifically by the presence of these rapid heartbeats that arise from abnormal electrical activity in the ventricular tissue.

Ventricular tachycardia is clinically significant because it can lead to more severe arrhythmias or even result in cardiac arrest if not treated. The identification of this rhythm on an electrocardiogram (EKG) typically shows a series of wide and bizarre QRS complexes occurring at a rate usually exceeding 100 beats per minute. Understanding this condition is crucial for anyone involved in cardiac care, as it requires prompt diagnosis and management.

In contrast to ventricular tachycardia, other conditions listed in the choices, such as atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia, and premature atrial contraction, do not encompass the definition of three or more consecutive PVCs, making them irrelevant to this specific question. Atrial fibrillation involves irregular and often rapid heart rates originating from the atria; sinus tachycardia is an increased heart rate that originates from the sinoatrial node, and premature atrial