Cardio Command

Pediatric Transesophageal Atrial Pacing and ECG Recording

For diagnosis and treatment of atrial arrhythmias, CardioCommand TAPCATH offers pediatric cardiologists a safe and effective alternative to invasive catheterization with a reported complication rate* of 9% (14% in infants). *Vitiuello, et al.  The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. J Am Coll Cardiol 32(5), 1998. Abstract

"We recommend a trial of transesophageal atrial pacing for acute conversion of any episode of atrial flutter in children prior to direct current cardioversion." Campbell RM, et al. Pediatrics 75(4):730-6,1985. Abstract

"Transesophageal atrial pacing (TAP) is a safe and effective means of terminating atrial flutter in the pediatric population. It is minimally invasive, it can often be performed in an outpatient setting, and the technique may occasionally be facilitated by infusion of intravenous procainamide." Rhodes LA, et al. Am Heart J 130(2):323-7,1995. Abstract

"A total of 203 transesophageal EP studies were performed in 132  patients. Transesophageal techniques can be used to predict freedom from many supraventricular tachycardias for most therapies in children. However, induction of tachycardia may not predict treatment failure. Transesophageal pacing to evaluate arrhythmia therapy may be most useful when managing either severe symptoms, multiple recurrences, or the results of RF ablation." Rhodes LA, et al. Am J Cardiol 15;74(4):353-6,1994. Abstract

"Atrial flutter may be difficult to diagnose in infants with tachycardia unless esophageal electrogram recording is utilized." Dunnigan A, et al. Pediatrics 75(4):725-729,1985. Abstract

"Esophageal electrocardiography (EsECG) is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of dysrhythmias that are difficult to diagnose with a conventional ECG. 26 of 68 pediatric patients exhibited rhythms during reperfusion that required the EsECG for definitive diagnosis." Bushman GA. J Cardiothorac Anesth 3(3):290-4,1989. Abstract

In a 2100-g neonate, "postoperative congestive heart failure persisted despite bradycardia management by temporary ventricular pacing. Spectral Doppler echocardiographic analysis of pulmonary venous inflow and aortic outflow patterns demonstrated significant improvement with transesophageal atrial pacing. Extended transesophageal pacing was performed for two days, resulting in dramatic clinical improvement."   Liske MR, et al. Pediatr Cardiol 20(3):218-20, 1999. Abstract

"TAP method can be applied satisfactorily in children undergoing cardiac surgery. If urgent cardiac pacing must be applied in these patients TAP would be a choice." Sung CS, et al. Chung Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih (Taiwan) 55(1):58-63,1995. Abstract

"Transesophageal electrophysiologic studies are a highly accurate means of diagnosing and characterizing various mechanisms of supraventricular tachycardia in pediatric patients." 
Samson RA, Deal BJ, Strasburger JF, Benson DW Jr. J Am Coll Cardiol 26(1):159-63, 1995. Abstract

"Transoesophageal pacing is a practical, safe and effective method for emergency cardiac pacing." Paul T, et al. Anaesthesist 42(8):564-6, 1993. Abstract

"Transesophageal atrial pacing may replace intracardiac pacing procedures, direct current cardioversion and drug administration in patients with selected cardiac arrhythmias and has proved appropriate as a first diagnostic or therapeutic step." Janousek J. Center of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Prague. Int J Cardiol 25(1):7-14, 1989. Abstract