Temporary cardiac pacing using the subclavian vein.

Use of subclavian vein for permanent cardiac pacing.

The subclavian vein has been used to implant permanent pacing catheters in 40 patients with symptomatic heart block. Though the cephalic and external jugular veins are usually preferred for this purpose in Britain, the use of these veins has certain disadvantages. In this study subclavian venepuncture by the infraclavicular approach was performed without diffculty and found to be a safe procedu...

Temporary cardiac pacing.

Temporary cardiac pacing can be a life-saving manoeuvre. The indications and techniques are well established. 1 The procedure is one of the 'essential' components of the training programme in general internal medicine. This may be desirable, but is it wise nowadays? Is it achievable? The traditional indication for a temporary cardiac pacemaker is heart block; the usual venue for the procedure i...

Temporary cardiac pacing.

Prolonged temporary cardiac pacing using an external permanent pacing system.

The number of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators implanted each year continues to grow in Spain, due largely to the increased life expectancy of the population in the case of pacemakers and the indications for primary prevention in the case of implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Although the incidence of infections associated with implantable cardiac devices is not high...

Mastering temporary invasive cardiac pacing.

Competent management of patients with an invasive temporary pacemaker is an important skill for nurses who provide care for critically ill patients with cardiac disease. Such management requires familiarity with normal cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, conduction system defects, and rhythm interpretation. With an understanding of the basic concepts of rate, output, chambers, sensitivity, a...