What arrhythmia may result from ventricular ectopic beats?

Ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs) are extra heartbeats originating from the ventricles, and they can lead to more complex arrhythmias, one of which is ventricular tachycardia (VT). VT occurs when there are three or more consecutive ventricular ectopic beats, causing the heart to beat quickly and potentially compromising cardiac output.

The mechanism behind VT in the context of VEBs is that they can disrupt the normal electrical conduction pathway of the heart. If these ectopic beats occur frequently or in a certain pattern, they can initiate a series of rapid beats because the ectopic focus within the ventricle takes over as the dominant pacemaker. Ventricular tachycardia can be a critical condition, as it may progress to more severe arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, which is a life-threatening state.

In contrast, other arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia, originate from different areas of the heart (the atria or above the ventricles) and are less directly related to ventricular ectopic activity. Therefore, while all arrhythmias require careful assessment, the direct consequence of ventricular ectopic beats is most accurately linked to the occurrence of ventricular