Premature Ventricular Complexes and Left Atrial Appendage Dysfunction - Another Head on a Many-Headed Hydra ?

Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in the absence of structural heart disease are often, but not always benign. They may require treatment for symptoms produced by the PVCs themselves or for intermittent sustained ventricular tachycardia. Even in the absence of symptoms, frequent premature ventricular complexes may lead to the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction as a form of tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy [1]. Therefore treatment of PVCs is indicated in the presence of LV dilatation and dysfunction or with sufficient frequency of PVCs where development of ventricular dysfunction in the future is considered highly likely. This, however, may not be the only consequence of frequent PVCs.