In temporary pacemakers, what should the sensitivity be increased for?

The recommendation to increase the sensitivity of a temporary pacemaker primarily relates to sensing malfunctions. Sensitivity settings determine the pacemaker's ability to detect intrinsic cardiac signals. When sensitivity is increased, the pacemaker becomes more responsive to the electrical activity of the heart, which can improve its ability to sense natural heartbeats.

In cases of sensing malfunction, the pacemaker may not be recognizing inherent cardiac activity adequately, leading to inappropriate pacing or failure to pace when needed. Therefore, enhancing the sensitivity aids in correctly identifying the heart's electrical signals, allowing for proper pacing and preventing the risk of pacing when it is not required.

While capture malfunction, lead displacement, and pacemaker failure are significant concerns in temporary pacing, they address different issues. Capture malfunction involves the pacemaker not successfully stimulating the myocardium after delivering a pulse, while lead displacement pertains to the physical movement of the leads that could affect pacing. Pacemaker failure is a more general term that can include multiple issues but does not specifically relate to the need for adjusting sensitivity. Thus, adjusting for sensing malfunctions ensures that the pacemaker accurately interprets cardiac signals, maintaining effective pacing and heart rhythm management.