Bigeminy is a term used to define a particular type of heart rhythm characterized by one normal heartbeat followed by a premature beat, then a “compensatory” pause, with that cycle repeated over and over. In text form the rhythm could be described as “BEAT-skip …pause… BEAT-skip …pause… BEAT-skip …pause…”
The term can be used to describe either PACs or PVCs, but is so common in describing PVCs that bigeminy is usually assumed to be referring to premature ventricular contractions, where if the premature contractions are originating in the atria, they will often be described as “bigeminal PACs.”
On the electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) below you can see bigeminal PVCs, a repeating pattern of a normal sinus beat and a PVC.
Thanks to Lisa33167 for the EKG
