What indicates cardiac bigeminy?

Prepare for the Spriggs Polysomnography Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with explanations. Get ready for success!

Cardiac bigeminy is characterized by a specific pattern in which every other heartbeat is a premature ventricular contraction (PVC). This means that after every normal heartbeat, there is a PVC, followed by another normal heartbeat. This alternating pattern impacts the overall rhythm of the heart and can be significant in a clinical context as it may indicate underlying heart issues.

In this instance, understanding the rhythm and frequency of the PVCs relative to normal beats is crucial for identifying bigeminy. The correct answer highlights this critical interval of every alternate beat being affected. This pattern differs from other forms of arrhythmia, like trigeminy, where every third beat is a PVC, or others where the frequency deviates from this alternating cycle.

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