Technical Tips
The Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 105–111, 2007 Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Inc. Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 0736-4679/07 $–see front matter doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2006.05.037 Technical Tips TEMPORARY TRANSVENOUS PACEMAKER PLACEMENT IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Richard A. Harrigan, MD,* Theodore C. Chan, MD,† Steven Moonblatt, MD,* Gary M. Vilke, MD,† and Jacob W. Ufberg, MD* *Department of Emergency Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and †Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California e Abstract—Emergency Department placement of a tem- patient management in the ED—depending upon patient porary transvenous cardiac pacemaker offers potential life- stability—placement of a transvenous cardiac pacemaker saving benefits, as the device can definitively control heart (TVP) usually is performed after other less invasive rate, ensure effective myocardial contractility, and provide means of treatment (e.g., pharmacologic, treating the adequate cardiac output in select circumstances. The pro- cedure begins with establishment of central venous access, underlying cause, transcutaneous pacing) have been ex- usually by a right internal jugular or left subclavian vein plored and exhausted. approach, although the femoral vein is an acceptable alter- Although a variety of pacemaker modalities exist— native, especially in patients who are more likely to bleed transesophageal, epicardial, endocardial, transcutaneous, should vascular access become complicated. The indica- and transvenous—it is the latter two methods that have tions for the procedure, as well as the equipment needed, applicability in the ED. Transcutaneous pacing, which is are reviewed. Both blind and ECG-guided techniques of usually employed initially as a temporizing measure, will insertion are described.
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