Disadvantages of temporary pacing through skin electrodes applied to the anterior chest wall include all of the following except:

C. Ventricular fibrillation.

DISCUSSION: In 1952 Zoll first described successful pacing through external metal electrodes applied to the anterior chest wall. Clinical experience with this technique has shown that it is both feasible and lifesaving for temporary pacing; however, disadvantages of the external pacing technique include skin burns when too little electrode jelly is applied, painful chest wall muscle contractions, and inability to pace in thick-chested or emphysematous patients. Ventricular fibrillation induced by external temporary cardiac pacing is exceedingly rare.