[Transcutaneous electric stimulation of the heart]

Transcutaneous cardiac pacing had been introduced in the 1950s, but was given up because of severe side-effects. In the 1980s, this technique became again popular thanks to technical improvement. These are the indications: Adams-Stokes syncope, hemodynamically significant SA or AV blocks, significant bradycardias, overdrive-stimulation in tachycardiac arrhythmias. In cardiocirculatory resuscitation, this method is not very successful (as are all other techniques of cardiac stimulation), if electromechanical dissociation has occurred. This shows, that this method has to be employed without delay, especially since there are new models, which can easily be used in the ambulance. One can only conclude, that all ambulances and helicopters staffed with physicians trained in emergency medicine should carry this equipment. The article reports on the technique, the handling and the literature on transcutaneous cardiac pacing.