What is a transcutaneous pacemaker?

Normal heart rate is usually between 60 and 100 rhythms per minute. This speed is often maintained by a healthy heart to draw blood rich in oxygen throughout the body. When heart rate is reduced due to low blood pressure and other disorders, its beating must sometimes be regulated by cardiac. One type of pacemaker is a transcutaneous pacemaker, a device that includes the use of pillows with electrodes placed in patients' chest. Its application is often temporary until the underlying failure is repaired or a more permanent pacemaker is not introduced. In the past, these devices used short electrical pulses from one to two milliseconds, similar to the action potential of the skeletal muscle. This often led to the patient's discomfort when the device was applied. In a newer transcutaneous pacemaker, the pulse is increased to 40 milliseconds, which resembles the action potential of the heart. Another side effect of earlier pacemakers is pain but using a majorityElectrodes in modern transcutaneous pacemaker are often minimized by patient pain.

Before placing the device, the patient is often informed of the reason for the use of the pacemaker and the discomfort he can experience. In the case of pain and discomfort, the physician may provide patients with pain relief or sedation. The pads are then placed in the patient's chest, and the doctor chooses the current needed to achieve the correct heart rate. In an emergency such as cardiac arrest, the application of a transcutaneous pacemaker is more likely to achieve success as soon as it occurs.

Several advantages of transcutaneous pacemaker include its easy use, the fact that it is not an invasive procedure and that can be quickly applied. Two of the disadvantages of a transcutaneous pacemaker are discomfort and pain in patients. However, these may be minimized by monitoring SPEarly placement of pads on the patient's chest and using only the minimum current necessary to achieve the necessary results.

prolonged use of the device can sometimes cause burning in the patient's skin. There are also cases where the muscles in the chest and membrane are stimulated by means of a transcutaneous pacemaker. This often results in seizures of coughs and hiccups in the patient.