[Therapeutic value of trans-esophageal electrostimulation in tachycardic arrhythmias]

We were able to terminate atrial flutter in 136 of 162 patients by transesophageal rapid atrial stimulation (conversion to sinus rhythm in 75 cases, induction of atrial fibrillation in 61 cases). Atrial tachycardias were interrupted in 17 of 23 patients (sinus rhythm in 11, atrial fibrillation in 6 cases), AV reciprocating resp. AV nodal supraventricular tachycardias were terminated in 32 of 33 patients (sinus rhythm in 28 cases, atrial fibrillation in 4 cases). By transesophageal rapid ventricular and/or atrial pacing, ventricular tachycardias could be terminated in 10 of 15 patients. The success rate of transesophageal pacing is influenced by the type of tachyarrhythmia, by the type of atrial flutter and by the stimulation rate. It is not influenced by the tachycardia's cycle length. Because the success rates are comparable with invasive technique and the procedure is simpler, the non-invasive transesophageal antitachycardia pacing represents a useful method for termination of tachycardic arrhythmias.