Transthoracic pacing in a very low birth weight infant with congenital complete atrioventricular block

We report our experience of pacemaker treatment in a premature infant of 83 0 g with congenital complete atrioventricular block due to maternal Sjogren 's Syndrome. The infant was delivered by cesarean section at an estimated g estational age of 26 weeks because of fetal bradycardia, decreasing fetal m ovements,and hydrops. Immediate postnatal transesophageal ventricular pacin g was not successful, whereas transthoracic pacing with self-adhesive patch electrodes adapted to body size resulted in an effective increase of the i nfant's heart rate until operative application of temporary epimyocardial p acing wires allowed external stimulation of the heart.