Asymptomatic ventricular ectopy. To treat or not to treat?

Ventricular ectopy that is bothersome to the patient warrants treatment, but the asymptomatic cases present the physician with a dilemma of whether or not treatment is justified. In patients free of organic heart disease, antiarrhythmic therapy does not appear to be necessary. Post myocardial infarction (MI) patients should be considered for beta-blocker therapy regardless of the presence of ventricular ectopy. In the post-MI patient with risk factors for sudden death, treatment of complex dysrhythmia may be warranted, despite the lack of documented benefit.