Pacer wire dressings should be left in place until when?

• A. 24 hours
• B. Wires are removed
• C. 7 days
• D. Never remove

Answer: (B)

Pacer wire dressings are kept in place to protect the exit sites and manage drainage while the external pacing wires are still in place. The dressings are removed only when the pacer wires themselves are removed, because once the wires come out, the sites are no longer being used and can be inspected and dressed anew as needed. If pacing is still required, the wires stay in place and so do the dressings.