Efficacy of transesophageal and transgastric cardiac pacing in the dog.

OBJECTIVES: Determine if temporary artificial cardiac pacing can be accomplished from transesophageal or transgastric pacing sites. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine purpose bred Beagle dogs had a multipolar electrophysiology pacing catheter inserted transnasally and advanced into the distal esophagus or stomach under general anesthesia. Artificial atrial pacing was attempted using a bipolar configuration from the distal esophagus with the dogs in left lateral recumbency. Artificial ventricular pacing was attempted from the distal esophagus and stomach using unipolar and bipolar configurations with the dogs in multiple positions. RESULTS: Transesophageal atrial pacing was accomplished in all dogs with a mean threshold of 10.5 mA (+ or - 3.9) and a 15 mm polar separation with no skeletal muscle stimulation. All attempts at transgastric and transesophageal ventricular pacing were unsuccessful. CONCLUSIONS: Transesophageal atrial pacing using standard cardiac pacing equipment is simple to perform and is a viable alternative to temporary transvenous or transthoracic pacing for supraventricular bradyarrhythmias without atrioventricular conduction disturbances. Transesophageal and transgastric ventricular pacing does not appear possible using the pacing configurations in this study.