What type of arrhythmia is characterized by a consistent pattern of "skipped beats"?

The arrhythmia characterized by a consistent pattern of "skipped beats" is premature atrial contractions (PACs). PACs are a common type of ectopic rhythm where an early electrical impulse originates in the atria, resulting in an early heartbeat. This early firing interrupts the normal rhythm of the heart, leading to a feeling of a skipped beat or palpitation. Since PACs occur intermittently but in a predictable manner, individuals often perceive them as a regular pattern of skipped beats.

While other arrhythmias can also alter the heartbeat, PACs are particularly notable for their "skipped" sensation, as they do not disrupt the overall heart rate as significantly as more severe arrhythmias like atrial flutter or second-degree heart block. For example, atrial flutter involves rapid, regular atrial activity, which doesn’t typically feel like skipped beats, and second-degree heart block involves a failure of some impulses to be conducted to the ventricles, which can result in varying rhythms but lacks the characteristic early beats of PACs. Ventricular fibrillation, on the other hand, is a life-threatening situation characterized by chaotic electrical activity, leading to ineffective heart contractions and is not associated with a pattern of skipped beats.