Do you test pace a patient after intially connecting to temp pacer?

Specialties CCU

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Say you had a patient in Atrial fib say 120's and the patient has epicardial pacing wires and the doctor wants the patient to be hooked to the temporary pacer so when they try to control rate or convert with meds if they over shoot it they have the pacer for back up. Would you test the pacer out to make sure you have capture? You would have to test them above their current rate of 120. This seems odd. But depending how long the epidcardial wires have been in they might not be functional so it would be prudent. What would you do? I will also ask our educator next time I seem him.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Education.

It sounds like that would be up to the physician. I would definitely put some pacer pads on the patient's chest just in case though.

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