[Emergency bedside temporary cardiac pacing through the left subclavicular vein guided by pacemaker impulse]

To investigate the feasibility and merits of emergency bedside temporary cardiac pacing through left subclavicular vein guided by pacemaker impulse.

The left subclavicular vein was punctured with Seldinger technique for insertion of a cannula. After setting the rate of pacemaker at 20 beat/min above the patients' spontaneous heart rate with output current of 5 mA and sensing voltage of 3 mV, the electrode was inserted through the cannula until the electrocardiograph displaying pulsed signal and pacing rhythm.

Good pacing was achieved in 18 patients with one having poor pacing, which was improved 2 h later. The pacing was not satisfactory in two cases. No postoperative complications occurred in the 21 patients.

Emergency bedside temporary cardiac pacing through the left subclavicular vein guided by pacemaker impulse is rapid and ensures high success rate and safety.