Abstract
Premature ventricular beats are very common in acute myocardial infarction. This arrhythmia requires immediate and aggressive treatment because it is the forerunner of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. The treatment of choice is lidocaine, usually in an initial dose of 50 to 100 mg intravenously. Atrial and ventricular transvenous pacing have been effective in overdriving and preventing cases of drug-resistant ventricular arrhythmias.