GP Vivas · cardiovascular-health
Palpitations assessment — structured viva
Structured oral on palpitations: rhythm classification by history, monitor choice matched to symptom frequency, PVC burden and cardiomyopathy, red flags demanding cardiology, and the anxiety question handled honestly.
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Study tools
Target exams
RACGP CCEFRACGP oralsMRCGP SCA
Prompt
The examiner opens: 'Half your palpitations patients have nothing wrong — why do you still investigate them all?' The viva branches through classification, monitoring strategy, ectopy thresholds, red flags and the anxiety question.
Stem
You are the GP. A colleague says all palpitations are anxiety until proven otherwise. [4]
References5ShowHide
- [1]Del Carpio Munoz F, Syed FF, Noheria A, et al. Characteristics of premature ventricular complexes as correlates of reduced left ventricular systolic function: study of the burden, duration, coupling interval, morphology and site of origin of PVCs J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 2011.PMID 21332870
- [2]de Asmundis C, Conte G, Sieira J, et al. Comparison of the patient-activated event recording system vs. traditional 24 h Holter electrocardiography in individuals with paroxysmal palpitations or dizziness Europace, 2014.PMID 24574492
- [3]Homme JL, Kranz LA, House M, et al. Diagnostic yield of 24 to 48-hour ambulatory cardiac monitoring in discharged emergency department patients Am J Emerg Med, 2025.PMID 40215590
- [4]Wexler RK, Pleister A, Raman SV Palpitations: Evaluation in the Primary Care Setting Am Fam Physician, 2017.PMID 29431371
- [5]Barsky AJ, Ahern DK, Delamater BA, et al. Differential diagnosis of palpitations. Preliminary development of a screening instrument Arch Fam Med, 1997.PMID 9161349