Temporary pacing: an overview

Abstract

This article will review pacing in the context of acute care, with a focus on temporary pacing. Beginning with an overview of the heart's intrinsic electrical conduction system and its function, the discussion moves on to pacing, acute clinical presentations and indications for pacing. This includes an overview of temporary pacing, with the different approaches being percussion, transcutaneous, transvenous and epicardial. There are specific cardiac patient groups at high risk of developing bradyarrhythmias and, in the absence of other measures, potentially requiring emergency pacing. These groups include patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction following cardiac surgery and post transcatheter aortic valve implant. Nurses providing care for patients with temporary transvenous wires need an understanding of the potential complications and to recognise indications for moving on to a permanent pacing system.