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Cardiac Pacemakers Updated 12/2010

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BASICS

  • Description
  • Etiology

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Essential Workup
  • Tests

TREATMENT

  • Pre-hospital
  • Initial Stabilization
  • ED Treatment
  • Medication (Drugs)
  • In-patient Considerations

Ongoing Care

  • Follow-Up Recommendations
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • A device that uses electrical impulses to contract the heart muscles to regulate the beating of the heart
  • Methods of cardiac pacing:
    • Percussive pacing:
      • Use of a closed fist, striking the sternum from a distance of 20–30 cm to induce a ventricular beat
      • Used only as a life-saving measure until an electrical pacemaker can be provided
    • Transcutaneous pacing:
      • 2 pads are placed on the chest in the anterior-lateral or anterior-posterior position.
      • The pacing current is gradually increased until electrical capturing occurs with a pulse.
      • Emergency therapy used only until transvenous pacing or another therapy can be applied
    • Temporary transvenous pacing:
      • A pacemaker wire is placed through central venous access into the right atrium (RA ...

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See Also
Images >
Figure 4.110. Intracardiac pacemaker showing the leads (arrows) in the right atrium and right ventricle. A, frontal view. B, lateral view.Credit: Richard H. Daffner, Clinical Radiology The Essentials, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007
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