Study Outcomes
Our study’s primary objective aimed to evaluate the safety of temporary permanent pacemakers through the assessment of temporary pacing-related adverse events compared to balloon-tipped temporary pacemakers. Secondary clinical outcomes included: i) Comparison of healthcare utilization between the 2 pacing modalities and ii) patient ambulation.
The pacemaker related adverse events were defined as the composite of venous thromboembolic events (VTE), pneumothorax/ hemothorax, lead access site hematoma or infection, and lead dislodgement or/and loss of capture. A standardized approach was applied for the care of all patients with temporary pacemaker at our institution, including hygiene protocols for infection prevention, VTE prophylaxis (unless contraindicated for specified reasons), and a routine post procedure chest x-ray to identify any possible mechanical complication and to evaluate lead position. Deep venous thromboses were diagnosed by Duplex Ultrasonography as clinically indicated.
As a standard practice, patients with BTTP are admitted to ICU setting. At our institution, patients with TPPM are monitored on telemetry or step-down unit if their clinical status otherwise does not warrant an ICU stay. This allowed us to further assess healthcare utilization in terms of total number of days pacing was required, as well as number of days spent in ICU versus outside of ICU. To assess safety of TPPM outside of ICU setting, we also compared pacemaker related adverse events between the subsets of this group who did not require ICU level of care to those requiring ICU admission.