Is the stroke volume during post-ectopic beat associated with ventricular premature complex-related symptoms?

Aims: This study aimed to investigate if increased stroke volume (SV) after a ventricular premature complex (VPC) was related to VPC-related symptoms. Methods and results: We selected patients having an isolated VPC during echocardiography from a prospective registry that included patients with a structurally normal heart and 24-h VPC >1%. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of VPC-related symptoms (skipped beat or palpitation) when VPC occurred. Left ventricular (LV) volumes and time-velocity integral (TVI) at the LV outflow tract were measured during the preceding sinus beat, VPC, and post-ectopic sinus beat. Percent LV SV of the VPC and post-ectopic sinus beat were calculated by dividing each SV by the SV of the preceding sinus beat. A total of 47 patients were eligible. Most patients had VPC with left bundle branch block morphology and inferior axis. Patients in the symptom (+) group had a significantly lower SV, %LV SV, and TVI during post-ectopic sinus beat than those in the symptom (-) group. The sum of SVs during VPC and post-ectopic beat was significantly lower in symptomatic patients than non-symptomatic patients (103.4 mL vs. 125.1 mL, P = 0.02), while the sum of %LV SVs during VPC and post-ectopic beat tended to be lower in patients with symptoms than those without symptoms (P = 0.08). The sum of %LV SVs during VPC and post-VPC was positively correlated with coupling interval (CI) and CI ratio. Conclusion: Ventricular premature complex-related symptoms may not be associated with the amount of post-VPC SV.