Temporary pacing electrode

Temporary pacing electrode

Proximal connectors of a pacing lead
Proximal connectors of a pacing lead

Tip of a bipolar temporary pacing electrode showing a distal tip electrode and a proximal ring electrode. It is customary to give negative polarity to the tip and positive polarity to the ring electrode, as cathodal pacing has a lower threshold. Threshold is the minimum voltage needed for capturing the chamber paced. The proximal connectors of the lead are connected to an external pacemaker.

Here the tip electrode has a golden colour and proximal ring electrode has a silver colour. But this is not a universal colour code. Some temporary pacing electrodes have same colour for both electrodes.

Tip of a temporary pacing electrode
Tip of a temporary pacing electrode