A client has an epicardial pacemaker.The nurse observes the presence of a pacing spike but no QRS complex on the client's electrocardiograph (ECG)tracing.How does the nurse interpret this event?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In epicardial pacing,the wires are threaded onto the epicardial surface of the heart and exit through the chest wall.The pacemaker spike should be followed immediately by a QRS complex.Pacing spikes seen without subsequent QRS complexes imply loss of capture.

A Client Has an Epicardial Pacemaker