Intraoperative Use of Dual-Chamber Demand Pacemakers for Open Heart Operations

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 579 - 581
• Main Authors: Wallenhaupt, Stephen L., Rogers, Anne T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-10-1989; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiopulmonary Bypass - adverse effects; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Heart Block - etiology; Heart Block - therapy; Humans; Intraoperative Complications - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pacemaker, Artificial; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Heart; Human; Arrhythmia; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Intraoperative; Conduction disorder; Excitability disorder; Case study; Instrumental stimulation; Treatment; Pacemaker; Surgery
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(10)66869-5

The availability of external atrioventricular sequential pacemakers has improved the management of patients with sinus bradycardia, junctional rhythm, and atrioventricular block. However, these pacemakers are of less value in patients with postoperative heart block and accelerated atrial rhythms. The temporary use of a modified explanted dual-chamber demand pacemaker may counteract that problem by providing atrially triggered, P-wave-synchronous ventricular pacing. We report 2 patients in whom the temporary use of the dual-chamber demand pacemaker greatly facilitated weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass after coronary artery bypass grafting.