Peter Mitro
Temporary cardiac pacing delivers time-limited treatment of brady- and tachyarrhythmias. It is indicated in the treatment of bradycardia in acute myocardial infarction, severe and symptomatic bradycardia in absence of acute myocardial infarction, in bradyarrhythmia prophylaxis and in the treatment of tachyarrhythmias. There are preliminary reports of the use of biventricular resychronisation therapy in the acute postoperative heart failure. Transvenous temporary pacing is the most reliable form. It is well tolerated, suitable for prolonged application but complications are not rare (20 % of patients). In external (transcutaneous) pacing stimulation current is applied through external chest electrodes. Rapid and easy application, high cardiac output and absence of tachyarrhythmic complications are benefits of external pacing; painfulness in a significant proportion of patients is a principal handicap. Transoesophageal and mechanical temporary pacing have only limited clinical use.