Rate of various access sites for temporary transvenous pacing and different outcomes at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the various temporary transvenous pacemaker (TPM) access sites, its indications, procedural complications, and outcomes of patients. METHODS: This prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, included 100 patients, who underwent TPM for any reasons, via the trans jugular, subclavian, or trans-femoral route. The duration of the study was from October 1(st), 2021 to March 31(st), 2022. The demographic, procedure -related complications, causes of complete heart block and in hospital outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients who underwent temporary transvenous pacing, 56%were males and 44% were females, with an age range of 46-80 years. In majority of the patients, (N =54) internal jugular vein was used as the venous access site followed by the subclavian vein. (N=24). Coronary artery disease was prevalent in 42% of the patients. 50% had complete AV block, 19% had symptomatic second-degree block, and 10% had sinus nodal diseases. Seventy three percent of the patients needed TPM implantation on an emergency basis, which is statistically significant (p=0.009). Almost 40% of the patient ultimately underwent a permanent pacemaker. Out of 100 patients, 16 patients expired. The major procedure related complications were bleeding 16% overall at the puncture site and 14.8% in the internal jugular group. Other complications were local infection 13% at the insertion site followed by hemopericardium 3%, in the internal jugular group. CONCLUSION: Atrioventricular block is the commonest indication for temporary pacing in our study. The average time the TPM remained in place was significantly higher in the trans jugular approach group along with a higher complication rate in this group.