HWN Suggests

Pacemaker and AICD management in the Emergency Department

In patients with pacemakers or ICDs who are hemodynamically unstable, the immediate priority is to restore their hemodynamic status. In device failure, patients may need to be transcutaneously paced, especially those patients who revert back to 3rd degree AV block or Mobitz type II block. Alternatively, atropine can be effective in patients with bradycardia. In those with arrhythmias or those with pacemaker-mediated tachycardia, placing a magnet over the device will immediately terminate these rhythms, and patients will have heart rates as determined by the device’s reset rate. Cardioversion and defibrillation can be performed as needed and pacer pads should be placed in the anterior-posterior…

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Articles of Interest

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