Transcutaneous pacing in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: effect of previous cardiac surgery

Temporary transcutaneous pacing thresholds were measured in 10 patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations and 10 patients having reoperative CABG operations 7 months to 14 years after their previous cardiac surgery. All surgeries were performed via median sternotomy. After anesthetic induction using either fentanyl or sufentanil in combination with enflurane, the pacing stimulation thresholds were determined. There was no significant difference (P less than 0.05) between the pacing thresholds of the reoperative group and the primary procedure group (78.2 +/- 6.2 v 79.2 +/- 4.8 mA, respectively). Transcutaneous pacing was successful in all 20 patients. Therefore, transcutaneous pacing thresholds appear unaffected by previous cardiac surgery.