Prehospital transcutaneous cardiac pacing for symptomatic bradycardia

We studied patients with symptomatic bradycardia to determine the importance of presenting hemodynamic status and prehospital transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP) upon patient survival. Of 51 patients with witnessed cardiovascular decompensation and initial bradycardia, 27 (53%) received TCP. There were no significant differences between the paced patients and those without TCP for mean times from collapse until cardiopulmonary resuscitation, paramedic arrival and a paceable rhythm, or from paramedic arrival until a paceable rhythm. Overall, emergency department arrival with a palpable pulse (26% in paced vs 13% in nonpaced group; P = 0.20) and survival to hospital discharge (15% in paced vs 0% nonpaced group; P = 0.07) tended to be better for the paced group. No patient without a palpable pulse on paramedic arrival survived to leave the hospital. Of patients with a palpable pulse upon paramedic arrival, survival to hospital discharge was greater for the paced group (80% in paced vs 0% in nonpaced group; P = 0.024). TCP appears to be most beneficial in those patients with bradycardia who have a palpable pulse when first seen.