• An ectopic beat is an erratic electrical impulse released from an automacity focus other than the SA node (either from AV junction, atria, or ventricles).
• Three major forms of ectopic beat include:
Premature beat: an aberrant impulse released from an automaticity focus which is then conducted before the sinus impulse
Escape beat: an aberrant impulse released from an automaticity focus when there is failed conduction within the SA and/or AV nodes
Tachycardic ectopic beat: a rapidly-firing beat causing tachycardia.
• Examples of ectopic beat and rhythm are listed below.
