Temporary transvenous pacing via the percutaneous femoral vein approach. A prospective study of 100 cases.

Abstract The transfemoral approach provides a reliable, simple, and rapid technique for temporary pacemaker insertion. This method provides stability greatly exceeding that of the basilic vein approach and comparable to the stability of the external jugular and cephalic vein routes without time-consuming cutdowns and dissections. The method is relatively free of complications and risk even when employed during the acute and critical phases of myocardial infarction. The approach to the heart by way of the inferior vena cava allows direct evaluation of atrioventricular conduction at the time of pacemaker insertion.