Which of the following is NOT a potential cause of premature ventricular beats?

Premature ventricular beats (PVBs) can be triggered by a variety of factors, which includes a range of physiological disturbances. Hypoxia, invasive catheter irritation, and surgical procedures can all create conditions that might lead to the development of PVBs due to changes in myocardial oxygenation, irritation of the heart tissue, or physiological stress on the heart.

Hypoxia can increase the automaticity of myocardial cells, leading to ectopic beats. Invasive catheter irritation may stimulate the myocardium directly, causing arrhythmias. Surgical procedures, particularly those involving the heart or major circulatory changes, can also induce premature beats due to direct trauma or shifts in electrolyte balance.

However, digoxin toxicity is known to primarily cause different types of arrhythmias, notably atrial and junctional rhythms, rather than inducing premature ventricular beats. The mechanism of action for digoxin is related to its effects on the vagus nerve and atrioventricular nodal conduction, which does not typically present as PVBs. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of different arrhythmias helps in recognizing why digoxin toxicity stands apart as not contributing to the occurrence of premature ventricular beats.