Hello All!
My experience in changing out pacing units is limited, as I have only done it a few times. All instances occurred when the referring hospital was not willing to part with their unit for one reason or another. Each time, there was no problem switching boxes. Switching boxes takes only a few seconds, and should be no different from what happens if you turn off a pacer for a moment to check a patient's underlying rhythm. I have to admit it does generate a bit of apprehension, though.
In the past we only carried a pulse generator in our fixed wing. Now that we use only rotorcraft, we do not have pulse generators for all our aircraft and do not carry one anymore. In our service area, I think our referring facilities would let us take the box with us and FedEx it back. They really have no other option if they want a transvenous paced patient transferred.
