Critical care nursing clinics of North America
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Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Jun 1989
ReviewTranscutaneous cardiac pacing: expanding clinical applications.
Transcutaneous cardiac pacing is an exciting alternative to invasive endocardial pacing methods for the treatment of hemodynamically significant bradyarrhythmias. Prompt institution of a pacing support system is crucial for improving outcomes in this patient population. Recent advances in technology and microcircuitry have eliminated the problems of painful, musculoskeletal stimulation and excessive distortion of the ECG signal associated with earlier devices. ⋯ Prophylactic use of transcutaneous pacemakers in a variety of clinical situations, such as atrioventricular blocks, may eliminate the need for transvenous electrode insertion and its related complications. A transcutaneous pacing system with the capability of functioning in the demand mode should be readily available in emergency rooms, intensive care units, and telemetry floors. Although unlikely to replace transvenous methods, the growing popularity of this technique has many implications for the nurse in the critical care setting.
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Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Jun 1989
ReviewHemodynamic monitoring modalities in pediatric cardiac surgical patients.
Transthoracic monitoring lines yield vital information in the care of the pediatric postoperative cardiovascular surgical patient. It is the critical care nurse, in the holistic care of the patient, who integrates this data into the daily plan of care. ⋯ The care of these critically ill infants requires a multifactoral approach. Hemodynamic monitoring is one of many avenues that we follow in the intensive care unit.