Medicine
Challenges of Transcutaneous Pacing in Bradyarrhythmic Emergencies
Quick fact
Transcutaneous pacing often fails to capture in up to 30% of patients, especially those with pericardial effusion or recent cardiac surgery, despite correct pad placement.
Why this is interesting
You're in the ER with a patient in severe bradycardia. You slap on the pacing pads, but the heart isn't responding. What's going wrong?