FOR APPs & PRIMARY CARE CLINICIANS
PVCs & ventricular tachycardia — Quick reference
First steps, urgent findings, referral guidance, and handoff essentials.
First steps
Review actual EKG/monitor strips, symptoms, PVC burden/morphology, EF, substrate, electrolytes, and medication exposures.
Recognize the urgent patient
Ongoing wide-complex tachycardia, instability, syncope with concerning features, or repeated ICD shocks requires acute evaluation.
When to refer
Refer symptomatic/frequent PVCs, suspected PVC-related dysfunction, concerning NSVT, or sustained VT to cardiology/EP.
What to send with the referral
12-lead EKG/monitor strips; burden/duration; symptom correlation; EF/imaging; labs; medication history.
Avoid this pitfall
Awake patients can have VT. PVCs or incidental NSVT alone do not automatically justify an ICD.
Reviewed October 11, 2026. This quick reference summarizes the linked guide; use the full guide for context and clinical references.