Temporary / External Pacing • Transvenous & epicardial pacing are temporary methods of supporting brady- & tachydysrhythmias until resolution or definitive treatment (such as a permanent implanted pacemaker) can be implanted. • External cardiac pacing involves connecting one or more pacing electrodes (called leads) to an external pulse generator (also called an external pacer box). • Transvenous and epicardial pacing are more reliable and more durable treatments than transcutaneous pacing. (Both are pictured, though would not be used simultaneously.) RATE - determines how often the pacer will fire OUTPUT - determines how much energy is delivered to each pacing lead; threshold is how much energy is required to trigger depolarization SENSITIVITY - determines how much current must be detected to identify a depolarization MODE - Determines which leads are paced and how the pacer responds to native cardiac activity by Nick Mark MD @nickmmark #pacemaker #PPM #Temporary #External #Pacing #cardiology #diagnosis #management #transcutaneous
