Abstract: A surgical electrode which can be used as a temporary lead for cardiac pacing or monitoring purposes has two elongated conductors whose distal ends are provided with spaced-apart poles and are implanted in a single operation by means of a surgical needle which is separably secured to the distal end of one of the conductors. The proximal ends of the conductors are connected to an elongated extension which passes through and outwardly from the thorax to be connected to a pacemaker or to an instrument which makes electrocardiograms. The conductors are insulated from each other and that pole which is nearer to the needle is defined by one or more bare strands which have a zig-zag, undulate, helical and/or other shape allowing the strands to reduce the width of the respective pole during penetration into the heart wall.