Patient had undergone a redo sternotomy, aortic valve replacement (avr) (tissue), aortic root replacement, aorto-atrial fistula repair, coronary artery bypass graft surgery (cabgx1), tricuspid valve debridement, and was noted by physician as doing well.The sternal dressing is to be changed 24 hrs.Post-op per physician orders.An registered nurse (rn) was taking off the saturated sternal dressing and noted there was low visibility of the pacer wire, during the dressing change, the patient became unresponsive and was asystole.A code was called, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (cpr) was initiated.The physician was in the next room and immediately responded to cpr.Return of spontaneous circulation (rosc) achieved after two minutes of cpr and 1 of epinephrine.It was noted after rosc it was found that sternal pacer wires that were placed the day prior were severed/discontinuous.Sternal wires were found to be in between gauze and tape on sternal dressing.Patient was pacemaker dependent.External pacing pads placed, patient intubated and taken to cath lab for temporary pacer placement in the right groin.
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