Transoesophageal emergency ventricular pacing with esophageal balloon electrode catheter

Objective To evaluate the safety and possibility of transesophageal emergency ventricular pacing with esophageal balloon electrode catheter. Methods Sixty four patients with critical bradyarrhythmias were divided randomly to receive either transesophageal ventricular pacing with esophageal balloon electrode catheter (balloon catheter group, n=32), or transesophageal ventricular pacing with normal esophageal electrode catheter (normal catheter group, n=32). Pulse width (ms), current output (mA), and the success rate were compared between the 2 groups. Results Success rate in the balloon catheter group was 87.5%, which was significantly higher than that in the normal catheter group (18.7%, χ2=27.7, P<0.01). The success rate of transesophageal ventricular pacing with esophageal balloon electrode catheter was 87.5%. The average current output (mA) was significantly lower in the balloon catheter group than that in the normal catheter group (24.5±2.5 mA vs 53±3.4mA, P<0.05). Conclusions Esophageal balloon electrode catheter pacing could become an available technique for transesophageal emergency ventricular pacing.