Bradyarrhythmias, temporary and permanent pacing

Bradycardia is common in critical care units. It may be transient, asymptom atic and of little consequence, or life-threatening. Bradycardia may result from abnormalities of the sinus node, atrioventricular node, or the His-Pu rkinje system. It may also be precipitated by drug effects or enhanced vaga l tone. Proper diagnosis is pivotal to determining prognosis and management . Temporary and permanent pacing is now readily available, markedly improvi ng the morbidity and mortality associated with bradyarrhythmias.