Final answer:
Three premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in a row can lead to ventricular fibrillation, a severe and life-threatening arrhythmia that requires immediate medical intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
If your patient has 3 PVCs in a row, this is most commonly referred to as a run of ventricular tachycardia, which can lead to ventricular fibrillation (VF). Ventricular fibrillation is a serious and life-threatening arrhythmia because it prevents the ventricles from effectively pumping blood to the rest of the body, including vital organs like the brain. In a hospital setting, ventricular fibrillation often triggers a 'code blue' since it requires immediate life-saving interventions like defibrillation. The correct answer to the question is, therefore, B. Ventricular fibrillation.