How the university cardiologist treats ventricular premature beats: A nationwide survey of 65 University Medical Centers

Sixty-five of 118 university cardiologists responded to a survey of indications for treatment of ventricular ectopy, particularly in the completely asymptomatic patient or those with palpitations as the only symptom. The percentage of cardiologists treating these patients increased as the complexity of ventricular ectopy increased, as the severity of underlying heart disease increased, as the symptoms increased from completely asymptomatic to palpitations or skipped beats, if the patient experienced dizziness or syncope, and if the patient had complex VPBs or asymptomatic VT after MI. Ninety-eight percent of respondents had patients who experienced exacerbation of arrhythmia with antiarrhythmic drugs. Of the conventional type 1 drugs, the drug of first choice was quinidine for 60%, procainamide for 37%, and disopyramide for 3%. The accepted indications for electrophysiologic testing included survivors of sudden cardiac arrest and patients with symptomatic VT.