Temporary epicardial pacing after cardiac surgery

Pathology of the cardiac conduction system poses significant risk to patients after cardiac surgery. As a result, temporary epicardial pacing wires are frequently placed before closing the chest. When combined with a battery-powered pacing box and reusable connecting cables, they form a temporary pacing system. The system allows pacing of the ventricles, atria, or both in order to protect against sudden bradycardic death and other bradycardic dysrhythmias, such as complete heart block. Temporary pacing also allows optimisation of the heart rate to improve cardiac output.