USE OF THE GASTROESOPHAGEAL ROUTE FOR THE RAPID ESTABLISHMENT OF VENTRICULAR PACING

A novel approach to emergency ventricular pacing has been developed us ing a gastro-esophageal electrode. The polythene electrode was passed into the stomach, after which the electrode tip was positioned in the gastric fundus. Ventricular pacing was performed using a cathode mount ed on the electrode tip; the indifferent electrode (anode) was either a chest pad or a proximal ring electrode. Ventricular capture was easi ly achieved in three emergency cases of severe bradyarrhythmia.