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- Title
Standardizing the Practice for Temporary Epicardial Wire Removal.
- Authors
Frew, J.
- Abstract
Temporary epicardial pacing wires (EPWs) are placed on the epicardium at the end of open heart surgery and are externalized through the skin to permit emergency and therapeutic pacing during the early hospitalized period of recovery. Clinical situations provided the opportunity to examine the practice of temporary epicardial pacing wire removal. A Canada-wide survey of cardiac centres identified inconsistencies in removal criteria and post-removal monitoring practices. As a result, the Central Zone of the Nova Scotia Health Authority developed a policy on removal of EPWs to help reduce the risk of infection and to minimize risk of potentially serious complications following removal. This presentation will highlight the development and implementation of the policy, focusing on the key aspects of pre-removal criteria, removal technique and post-removal monitoring. Incidence and interventions with cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening potential complication post EPW removal, will also be discussed. Developed in 2012, the EPW removal policy has increased health care team awareness around the importance of monitoring patients post EPW removal. In turn, this has led to a rapid response to adverse events following EPW removal.
- Subjects
CARDIAC pacing; MEDICAL device removal; EQUIPMENT &; supplies
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2016, Vol 26, Issue 3, p5
- ISSN
0843-6096
- Publication type
Article