title: Feasibility of peripheral venous access for temporary right ventricular pacing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this brief report, we present our experience from placing temporary pacing electrodes through peripheral venous access sites, at bedside, in a series of patients needing temporary pacing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients requiring temporary pacing were selected. The median cubital or the basilic vein of the left upper extremity were used for catheterization at the bedside in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 patients (17 men, age 64.6 ± 11.8) were included. The procedure was successful in 21 cases (84%), 18 of which were completed without the need for fluoroscopic guidance. The pacing leads remained for 4.2 ± 2.2 days. As expected, no serious complications related to venous puncture were observed. Although patients were allowed to be mobilized within the ward and engage in limited movements of the catheterized arm, in only one case was the lead displaced, requiring repositioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We provide observational evidence that the use of peripheral venous access for temporary pacing lead insertion (with no fluoroscopic guidance, as default strategy) is a safe and feasible choice that might be considered as an alternative to central vein catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Athens General Hospital G. Gennimatas, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deftereos
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raisakis
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kossyvakis
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Panagopoulou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaoukis
authors.forename: Aggeliki-Despoina
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mavrogianni
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doudoumis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theodorakis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bobotis
authors.forename: Vlasios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pyrgakis
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome