Procedural planning
Cardiac pacing can be either temporary or permanent. Temporary pacing may be accomplished transcutaneously (ie, placing 2 external pacing pads over the chest wall in the anteroposterior or anterolateral location) or via transvenous placement of a temporary pacing wire in one or more of the right heart chambers. In a patient who has recently undergone cardiac surgery, temporary epicardial leads are often placed and removed before the patient is discharged from the hospital.[6]
Permanent pacing is most commonly accomplished through transvenous placement of leads to the endocardium (ie, right atrium or ventricle) or epicardium (ie, to the left ventricular surface via the coronary sinus), which are subsequently connected to a pacing generator placed subcutaneously in the infraclavicular region. In a patient without appropriate venous access, epicardial leads can be placed via a thoracotomy and tunneled subcutaneously to the pacing generator.
Complication prevention
Multiple studies have shown that infection rates can be reduced by employing maximal sterile-barrier precautions, including mask, cap, sterile gown, sterile gloves, and large sterile drape.
Subclavian artery injury may occur during subclavian vein access, carotid artery puncture during jugular vein access, and femoral artery puncture during femoral vein access. The subclavian artery cannot be compressed; accordingly, the subclavian approach should be avoided in anticoagulated patients.
An air embolism may be caused by negative intrathoracic pressure during inspiration by the patient, which sucks air into an open line hub. Be sure the line hubs are always occluded. Placing the patient in the Trendelenburg position lowers the risk of this complication.
If air embolism occurs, the patient should be placed in the Trendelenburg position with a left lateral decubitus tilt; this may prevent the movement of air into the right ventricle and onward into the left side of the heart. In addition, 100% oxygen should be administered to speed resorption of the air. If a catheter is located in the heart, aspiration of the air should be attempted.
Dysrhythmia is due to mechanical irritation of the heart by the wire or catheter tip. It can usually be terminated by simply withdrawing the equipment into the superior vena cava. Placing a central venous catheter without a cardiac monitor is unwise.
If the clinician is not conscientious about maintaining control of the guide wire, it may be inadvertently inserted fully into the vein and have to be retrieved.
Patients who are allergic to antibiotics may experience anaphylaxis upon insertion of an antibiotic-impregnated catheter.
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