In temporary cardiac pacing, wires are inserted through the chest (during heart surgery), or a large vein in the groin or neck, and are directly connected to the heart. These wires are connected to an external pacing box, which delivers a current to the heart to make it beat normally.

Can pacing wires be left in?

Temporary epicardial pacing wires, implemented in patients during heart transplantation, are routinely removed before discharge. However, in some cases, these wires may remain in situ and are often considered as a contraindication for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in the future.

What is pacing wire in CABG?

Background: Temporary epicardial pacing wires are used routinely after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and can cause rare, catastrophic complications. This study's purpose was to identify patient characteristics predicting the need for pacing after CABG surgery with the potential to limit their utilization.