Transcutaneous Cardiac Pacing in Patients with Bradyarrhythmias during Anesthesia: Two Case Reports

• Published in: Nihon Rinshō Masui Gakkai shi Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 192 - 195
• Main Authors: KOIZUMI, Chiharu, YAMAMOTO, Yasunori, TOHYAMA, Kazuki, SUGIMOTO, Yuji, TOHYAMA, Yoshiko, IKEGAKI, Sei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA 15.05.1997
• Subjects: Anesthetic management; Bradyarrhythmia; Transcutaneous cardiac pacing
• ISSN: 0285-4945; 1349-9149
• DOI: 10.2199/jjsca.17.192

Transcutaneous cardiac pacing is an easy, non-invasive procedure. The transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker (TCP) was placed for standby pacing before anesthesia in two patients with bradyarrhythmias who were clinically stable but who might have had severe bradycardia and hemodynamic complications during anesthesia. Both cases of TCP application are reported below. Case 1: A 68-year-old female with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) was scheduled to undergo right mastectomy. The electrodes for pacing were placed after inducing anesthesia. During anesthesia, TCP often provided the effective ventricular beats upon severe bradycardia, and no hemodynamic complications occurred. Two weeks after the operation she lost consciousness because of critical bradycardia. A permanent cardiac pacemaker was implanted. Case 2: An 81-year-old female with SSS was scheduled to undergo the operation for a bone fracture in her lower leg. We prepared TCP using a similar method. She had severe bradycardia during anesthesia and immediate TCP gave effective ventricular beats for about 10 minutes without any complications. Standby pacing by a transcutaneous cardiac pacemaker was effective and safe for patients with bradyarrhythmias during anesthesia.