The Cardiac Exam: Auscultation

Bigeminy

Bigeminy is defined as premature beats alternating regularly with normal beats. Bigeminy is either atrial or ventricular bigeminy, depending upon whether the alternating regular premature beats and atrial or ventricular. Bigeminy is generally considered pathological, especially when symptomatic.

Because the premature beats alternate regularly, bigeminy generally sounds like a regularly irregular heart rhythm..

Bigeminy can be associated with the following conditions:

• hypoxia
• ischemia
• acute myocardial infarction
• medication overdose

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(02 February 2005)
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