Objective To investigate frequency of pacing by temporary pacemaker and its effects on the cardiac function in the non-cardiac surgeries. Methods A total of 200 patients were selected who had undergone non-cardiac surgeries with TPM in Baoji Central Hospital from June 2012 to June 2017. Based on the frequency of right ventricular pacing (RVP), all the patients were divided into high-pacing group (>50%, n=128) and low-pacing group (≤50%, n=72). The two groups were then compared in complications, heart rate (HR) 1 day pre- and post-operatively, cardiac index (CI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CKMB), troponin T (TnT), amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and atrial fibrillation. SPSS statistics 22.0 was used for data analysis, and Student′s t test, ANOVA, Chi-square test or Z test for comparison. Results The incidence of complications was 4.69% (6/128) in the high-pacing group against 6.94%(5/72) in the low-pacing group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The levels of HR, CI and LVEF were significantly lower 1 day postoperatively than preoperatively, and the levels of TnT and NT-proBNP were significantly higher 1 day postoperatively in the high-pacing group than in the low-pacing group (P<0.05). Compared with the low-pacing group, the high-pacing group had lower HR[(62.47±6.51) vs (69.43±7.24)beats/min], CI[(2.45±0.30) vs (3.86±0.42)L/(min·m²)], and LVEF[(35.12±3.55)% vs (39.94±4.11)%], but higher CKMB[(46.87±5.43) vs (38.32±4.16)U/L], TnT[(86.45±9.05) vs (68.02±7.36)ng/L]and NT-proBNP[(275.12±30.24) vs (228.31±29.57)ng/L](P＜0.05). An incidence of new atrial fibrillation of 7.81%(10/128) in the high-pacing group was significantly higher than that of 0.00% (0/72) in the low-pacing group(χ²=4.391, P=0.045). Conclusions Low frequency of pacing (≤50%) by TPM can effectively maintain stable cardiac function in the patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, helping to avoid the occurrence of postoperative new-onset atrial fibrillation.