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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Transesophageal Atrial Burst Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Induction in Rats
Published on: February 14, 2022
Effect of body position on transesophageal atrial pacing in dogs
Tamilselvam Gunasekaran1, Robert A Sanders1
1Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of body position on transesophageal atrial pacing (TEAP) in dogs.
Study Design:
Prospective, experimental trial.
Animals:
A total of eight mixed-breed dogs, median body mass 25 kg (range 11-31 kg).
Methods:
TEAP was performed using a 6 Fr (2 mm) pacing catheter introduced transorally and positioned in the lower esophagus in left lateral recumbency. The catheter was withdrawn in 5 mm increments until successful TEAP. The minimum pacing threshold (MPT) was determined at each 5 mm increment until atrial capture could not be achieved at a maximal pulse amplitude of 40 mA. The zone of capture (ZOC) was the total distance over which TEAP was achieved. The same process was repeated in right lateral, ventral and dorsal recumbency. A linear mixed model was used to assess the impact of body position on TEAP and ZOC.
Results:
TEAP was achieved in all body positions. There was significant random effect of individual dogs on ZOC (p = 0.048) but not on MPT (p = 0.109). MPT was 11.56 ± 8.65 mA (mean ± SD), 8.43 ± 2.29 mA, 10.63 ± 6.91 mA and 10 ± 7.44 mA for dorsal, left and right lateral, and ventral recumbency, respectively. ZOC was 5.12 ± 2.08 cm, 6.35 ± 2.41 cm, 5.94 ± 3.23 cm and 5.31 ± 2.2 cm for dorsal, left lateral and right lateral, and ventral recumbency, respectively. Neither ZOC (p = 0.363) nor MPT (p = 0.716) varied significantly between body positions.
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
TEAP can be performed successfully in all body positions in dogs. Body position did not significantly influence MPT or ZOC values for TEAP. Further studies are needed to compare the efficacy of TEAP with the efficacy of standard pharmacological therapy for management of bradycardia during general anesthesia in dogs.
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