Left atrial epicardial pacing for chronotropic support in descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery

Some patients undergoing surgery of the descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta develop sustained bradycardia causing hemodynamic impairment. Seven patients had left atrial epicardial pacing at a physiological rate obviating their hemodynamic impairment during, and for up to several days after, their surgery. This simple technique can be readily used particularly when the aortic reconstruction is facilitated by left atrial to femoral artery bypass.