[Termination of atrial flutter using esophageal stimulation]

The risk of possible complications in atrial flutter leads to attempts to use all available therapeutic possibilities to eliminate this disorder of the cardiac rhythm. By oesophageal stimulation the sinus rhythm was restored in 40% and a change to atrial fibrillation was achieved in 50% of the patients. The advantages of this method include above all speed and the minimal risk of complications; the disadvantage of the method is the unpleasant sensation when the electrode is inserted and the painful perception of the stimuli. Oesophageal stimulation can be recommended as the method of choice in treatment of atrial flutter.