Temporary pacemaker
A temporary pacemaker is a small battery-powered device that is used to help keep a regular heartbeat. The device that sends out the electrical signal usually remains outside the body, whereas a permanent pacemaker is implanted inside the body.
A temporary pacemaker is used when a person is:
- Too sick to receive a permanent pacemaker.
- Likely to recover from a slow heart rate and will not need a permanent pacemaker (such as right after a heart attack).
- In an emergency situation, because of a slow heart rate. For example, a person's blood pressure may be very low because of a slow heart rate, and it is necessary to speed up the heart immediately.
- Being treated with (and still requires) an external pacemaker.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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