Outcomes of emergency department placement of transvenous pacemakers

Transvenous Pacemaker Placement: A Review for Emergency Clinicians

BACKGROUND

Transvenous pacemaker placement is an integral component of therapy for severe dysrhythmias and a core skill in emergency medicine.

OBJECTIVE

This narrative review provides a focused evaluation of transvenous pacemaker placement in the emergency department setting.

DISCUSSION

Temporary cardiac pacing can be a life-saving procedure. Indications for pacemaker placement include hemodynamic instability with symptomatic bradycardia secondary to atrioventricular block and sinus node dysfunction; overdrive pacing in unstable tachydysrhythmias, such as torsades de pointes; and failure of transcutaneous pacing. Optimal placement sites include the right internal jugular vein and left subclavian vein. Insertion first includes placement of a central venous catheter. The pacing wire with balloon is then advanced until electromechanical capture is obtained with the pacer in the right ventricle. Ultrasound can be used to guide and confirm lead placement using the subxiphoid or modified subxiphoid approach. The QRS segment will demonstrate ST segment elevation once the pacing wire tip contacts the endocardial wall. If mechanical capture is not achieved with initial placement of the transvenous pacer, the clinician must consider several potential issues and use an approach to evaluating the equipment and correcting any malfunction. Although life-saving in the appropriate patient, complications may occur from central venous access, right heart catheterization, and the pacing wire.

CONCLUSIONS

An understanding of transvenous pacemaker placement is essential for emergency clinicians.

Application of the improved simple bedside method for emergency temporary pacemaker implantation suitable for primary hospitals

The purpose of the research was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the X-ray-free improved simple bedside method for emergency temporary pacemaker implantation as well as the practicability of the method in primary hospitals. Patients [including those suffering from sick sinus syndrome and third-degree and advanced atrioventricular blockage (AVB)] who needed emergency temporary pacemaker implantation from July 2017 to August 2020 in Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital were selected. They were stochastically divided into a research group (95 cases) treated with the improved simple bedside method and a control group (95 cases) with X-ray guidance. The ordinary bipolar electrodes were used in both groups. On this condition, the operation duration, the first-attempt success rate of electrodes, pacing threshold, success rate of the operation, the rate of electrode displacement, and complications in the two groups were separately calculated. The comparison results of the research group with the control group are shown as follows: operation time [(18 ± 5.91) min vs. (43 ± 2.99) min, P < 0.05], the first-attempt success rate of the electrode (97% vs. 98%, P > 0.05), pacing threshold [(0.97 ± 0.35) vs. (0.97 ± 0.32) V, P > 0.05], success rate of the operation (98.9% vs. 100%, P > 0.05), the rate of electrode displacement (8.4% vs. 7.3%, P > 0.05) and complications (3.2% vs. 2.1%, P > 0.05). The emergency temporary pacemaker implantation based on the improved simple bedside method is as safe and effective as the surgical method under X-ray guidance, and the operation is simpler and easier to learn and requires a shorter operating time, therefore, it is more suitable for use in emergency and primary hospitals.

Myocardial Injury After Temporary Transvenous Cardiac Pacing

INTRODUCTION

Temporary transvenous cardiac pacing (TTCP) can lead to potential penetration and occasional perforation of the right ventricular wall. No study to date has analyzed the effect of TTCP on myocardial injury by cardiac troponin (cTn) measurement. The present study was designed to investigate perioperative myocardial injury in elective TTCP in noncardiac surgical settings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study investigated the data collected from August 2018 through March 2020 from 22 eligible patients who underwent elective TTCP for noncardiac procedures. The patients had a median age of 66 (50-83) years; six (27.3%) of them were women, and all of them had a baseline cTn <1 upper reference limit (URL). Cardiac biomarker assays were performed before and after TTCP, and their results were compared.

RESULTS

After TTCP, cTn > 1 URL was detected in 20 (91%, N=22) patients. Among these 22 patients, paired t-test comparing assay results before and after TTCP lead insertion showed a mean cTn elevation of 3.599 URL (95% CI: 1.566 to 5.632, P<0.01), and a mean creatine kinase-MB isoform elevation of 0.1550 URL (95% CI: -0.01239 to 0.3224, P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates a high incidence of myocardial injury associated with TTCP, which should be a matter of concern for the involved physicians.

An Inexpensive Conceptual Training Model for Transvenous Pacemaker Placement

INTRODUCTION

Emergent transvenous (TV) pacemaker placement can be life-saving, but it has associated complications. Emergency medicine (EM) educators must be able to teach this infrequent procedure to trainees.

METHODS

We constructed a conceptually-focused, inexpensive training model made from polyvinyl chloride pipes and connectors, vinyl tubing, and a submersible pump. Cost of the model was $51. We tested the model with a group of 15 EM residents. We then asked participants to complete a survey reporting confidence with the procedure before and after the session. Confidence was compared using a Wilcoxon matched-pairs test.

RESULTS

Confidence improved after the session, with a median confidence before the session of 2 (minimally confident; interquartile range [IQR] 1-3) and a median confidence after the session of 4 (very confident; IQR 3-4, p=0.001). All residents agreed that the model helped them to understand the process of placing a TV pacemaker.

CONCLUSION

Our TV pacemaker placement model was inexpensive and allowed for practice of a complex emergency procedure with direct visualization. It improved trainee confidence.

Bedside temporary transvenous cardiac pacemaker placement

Temporary transvenous cardiac pacing is a life-saving procedure in an emergency. Transvenous cardiac pacing catheterization guided by intracavitary electrocardiogram (IC-ECG), instead of fluoroscope, is practical. Tips for controlling the orientation of the pacing catheter tip and utilizing IC-ECG to monitor the positions of electrodes make bedside temporary transvenous cardiac pacing catheter placement feasible and 'visible'. The technique discussed here is comparable to the operation under fluoroscopy，but without exposure to X-ray.

Transvenous pacemaker placement: left lateral decubitus position and wireless digital radiography

A patient presented with symptomatic third degree atrioventricular block requiring emergency transvenous pacemaker placement. During the procedure, wireless digital radiographs tracked the position of the pacemaker electrode, which repeatedly missed the target right ventricle. The patient was then rolled to left lateral decubitus position and the electrode was advanced into the right ventricle, achieving electrical capture, hemodynamic stability, and symptom resolution. We review the published literature on transvenous pacemaker placement and identify two innovations: left lateral decubitus position to facilitate catheter placement and wireless digital radiography for procedure guidance.