Temporary cardiac pacing following open-heart surgery.

The type, frequency and duration of use of temporary pacemaker wires were recorded in 100 patients who underwent in 100 patients who underwent open-heart surgery. Sixty-five patients had wires implanted: 29 were atrioventricular 35 ventricular and 1 atrial. Pacing was required in 24 instances for nodal rhythm, sinus bradycardia, sinus arrest, atrioventricular block or ventricular tachycardia. Patients who required a pacemaker temporarily had a significantly (P less than 0.001) longer cross-clamping time and required a significantly (P less than 0.025) larger volume of cardioplegic agent during the operation. Two patients who did not have wires placed could have benefited from pacing. Temporary pacemaker wires should always be implanted in patients after they have undergone open-heart surgery, especially when abnormal rhythms are present, or the cross-clamping time is prolonged and when larger volumes of cardioplegic agent have been used.