title: Transesophageal low-energy synchronous cardioversion of atrial flutter/fibrillation in the dog.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of terminating atrial flutter/fibrillation using low-energy synchronous shocks delivered through a transesophageal catheter in dogs with talc-induced pericarditis. Atrial flutter/fibrillation was induced by employing the pulse train method. The minimum effective cardioversion energy level was compared for three different methods--method A, delivery between a distal esophageal electrode and a proximal esophageal electrode; method B, delivery of shocks through a distal esophageal electrode and a plate placed on the chest; method C, transthoracic cardioversion. The minimum effective cardioversion energy level did not differ significantly between methods A and B (1.30 +/- 0.46 joules versus 1.29 +/- 0.35 joules). Transesophageal cardioversion decreased the defibrillation threshold three- to fourfold from that of conventional transthoracic cardioversion. There were no complications of heart block, ventricular fibrillation, or any pathologic evidence of esophageal injury. Thus transesophageal low-energy synchronous cardioversion is considered a feasible and effective method for the treatment of atrial flutter/fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamanouchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiroki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arakawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D004285:Dogs; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004566:Electrodes; D004947:Esophagus; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies