Which statement correctly describes the QRS width of PVCs?

• A. The QRS Is Narrow
• B. The QRS Width Is Variable, But Typically Narrow
• C. The QRS Is Wide (0.12 Seconds Or More)
• D. The QRS Is Absent

Answer: (C)

Premature ventricular contractions originate in the ventricles, outside the normal His-Purkinje conduction system. Because of this, ventricular depolarization spreads more slowly and in a less organized way, producing a QRS complex that is wider than normal. The normal QRS duration is less than 0.12 seconds, so a PVC typically has a QRS duration of 0.12 seconds or longer. That's why the statement describing the QRS as wide (0.12 seconds or more) is the best description. A narrow QRS would suggest a supraventricular origin with intact fast conduction, and an absent QRS isn’t consistent with a PVC event.