TRANSVENOUS EMERGENCY CARDIAC PACING

Indications for and complications of temporary transvenous cardiac pacing

A prospective survey was conducted of the indications for and complications of 153 temporary transvenous cardiac pacing lead insertions in 148 patients. Pacing for bradyarrhythmias or potential bradyarrhythmias (Group I) accounted for 105 insertions, wide complex tachycardia (Group II) 17, and narrow complex tachycardia (Group III) 31 pacing electrode insertions respectively. The infraclavicular subclavian vein approach was used in 73%. The median insertion time was 20 minutes. Group I: 77% were undertaken because of severe symptoms. On 64 occasions (61%) the patient had complete heart block or ventricular asystole. Group II: The lead was inserted to treat and often assist in the diagnosis of the wide complex tachycardia. Ventricular 'burst' pacing reverted ventricular tachycardia in 13 (76%). Group III: Rapid atrial 'burst' pacing was used to treat supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and atrial flutter) resistant to medical therapy. Pacing was successful in reverting 28 (90%). A complication occurred in 27 (18%) of 153 lead insertions, 11 (7%) were serious. No complication resulted in the death of a patient. Temporary transvenous pacing is safe and effective for the treatment of bradyarrhythmias and certain tachyarrhythmias.

Cardiac pacing in intensive care

Cardiac pacing techniques and equipment have developed dramatically in recent years. Bradycardias and tachycardias may be effectively treated by pacing. Bradyarrhythmias: It is generally accepted that pacing is indicated for a sustained symptomatic bradycardia. Prophylactic pacing for 'high-risk' bundle branch block in acute myocardial infarction is more controversial. A new era in cardiology has been introduced with the advent of 'physiological pacing', i.e. pacing of the heart with the maintenance of atrioventricular synchrony and varying the heart rate according to the body's metabolic leads. Modern pacing systems, which allow the atria and ventricles to contract in sequence, improve cardiac haemodynamics, result in subjective improvement and increase exercise tolerance. There are, however, pacemaker-associated and pacemaker-mediated tachyarrhythmias. Further advances in technology should overcome these problems. Tachyarrhythmias: Intracardiac electrocardiograms are often useful in the diagnosis of tachyarrhythmias, especially wide complex tachycardias. Rapid pacing of the atria in certain supraventricular tachycardias or of the ventricle in ventricular tachycardia is an alternative to cardioversion in many instances. This form of treatment is usually utilised in conjunction with drug therapy.

Analysis of pacemaker malfunction and complications of temporary pacing in the coronary care unit

The medical records of 100 patients who received 113 temporary transvenous pacemakers were reviewed to determine the incidence of complications and malfunction. Malfunction, defined as failure to capture or sense, or both, occurred in 42 (37 percent) of 113 temporary pacemakers. The initial malfunction occurred within 24 hours in 21 (50 percent) and within 48 hours in 36 (86 percent) of the 42 pacemakers. Although the incidence of malfunction was not significantly different for brachial and femoral venous pacing catheters, 7 (37 percent) of 19 brachial venous pacemakers required repositioning or replacement compared with 8 (9 percent) of 91 femoral venous catheters (p = 0.005). Thirty-seven complications occurred in 23 (20 percent) of 113 episodes of pacing; ventricular tachycardia during catheter insertion, fever and phlebitis were the most common complications. No complication resulted in death. The incidence of complications and perforation was greater for brachial than for femoral venous pacemakers (p less than 0.05). Sepsis, local infection and pulmonary embolus occurred only with femoral venous pacemakers. Sepsis, phlebitis and pulmonary embolus were more common with temporary pacemakers in place for 7 hours or longer (p = 0.04). Recognition to the problems peculiar to each pacing catheter site and shortening the duration of pacing should help minimize problems with temporary pacing.

The use of the balloon-tipped floating catheter in temporary transvenous cardiac pacing

The effectiveness and safety of balloon-tipped, flow guided, electrodes for ventricular pacing as opposed to the fluoroscopy-guided semi-rigid bipolar electrodes have never been compared in a controlled study. A prospective study was therefore undertaken to compare both techniques in semi-elective and emergency procedures. Flow guided electrodes were inserted in 67 patients (group A) and semi-rigid electrodes in 44 patients (group B). The results of group A were judged to be superior to those of group B in four aspects: a) shorter time (6'45" vs. 13'30", p less than 0.0005); b) lower incidence of catheter displacement (13.4 vs. 32.0 percent, p less than 0.05); c) longer interval of time between implantation and catheter displacement (4.4 vs. 1.9 days, p less than 0.0005); d) lower incidence of serious ventricular arrhythmias during insertion (1.5 vs. 20.4 percent, p less than 0.005). Threshold at insertion was not significantly different (0.6 +/- 0.3 vs 0.7 +/- 0.2 milliampere). The superiority of flow-guided electrodes over fluoroscopy-guided electrodes persisted in the comparison of semielective insertions in groups A and B. We conclude that the flow-guided insertion technique is safer, more expeditious and more stable than the fluoroscopy-guided technique in semi-elective as well as in emergency insertions.

Inapparent double puncture of the femoral artery and vein. An important complication of temporary cardiac pacing by the transfemoral approach

An important complication of temporary cardiac pacing by the transfemoral approach. This report describes three cases of inapparent double puncture of the femoral artery and vein as a complication of the transfemoral approach for temporary cardiac pacing. This complication may lead to the passage of a pacing catheter to the right ventricle by way of the femoral artery and vein and may remain undiagnosed until the rigid outer sheath of the introducer set is withdrawn over the pacing catheter. Therefore, we recommend immediate withdrawal of the rigid outer sheath as soon as the catheter lies freely in the iliac vein or the inferior vena cava. If double puncture has occurred, arterial blood will leak around the pacing catheter. Control of arterial bleeding by local compression should not be attempted without removal of the pacing catheter.