Final answer:
Administering transcutaneous pacing involves setting an appropriate pacing threshold, monitoring for discomfort or complications, adjusting settings to meet metabolic demands during activity, and confirming patient details and procedure plans with the medical team prior to starting.
Step-by-step explanation:
When administering transcutaneous pacing, which is a temporary means of pacing a patient's heart during an emergency, there are several important considerations to ensure patient safety and the effectiveness of the treatment. Key points include:
- Ensuring that the pacing threshold is appropriate, which means setting the pacemaker to deliver electrical impulses at a level just above the minimum energy required to make the heart contract.
- Monitoring the patient closely for any signs of discomfort or complications, such as irritation of the skin where the pacing pads are placed.
- Being aware of the pacemaker's sensors that detect body motion and breathing, which may adjust the heart rate during physical activity to meet the body's demand for blood and oxygen.
- Having a clear understanding of emergency protocols and the appropriate time constant for the pacemaker settings.
- Confirming patient details and the plan for the procedure with all team members, including the nurse and anesthesia professional, before beginning.
Pacemakers also have built-in safety features, such as sensors that respond to the metabolic needs of the body during physical activities and can contain a defibrillator for patients at risk of arrhythmias. It is important for the medical professional to know how to adjust these settings and ensure they are programmed correctly according to each individual patient's needs.