Transesophageal atrial pacing in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in pregnancy

Objective To study the clinical efficacy and safety of transesophageal atrial pacing in the suppression and termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in pregnancy. Methods Thirty-one pregnant women with PSVT treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2004 to December 2018 were selected as research objects. All patients were stimulated by S1S1 for 2-5 times at a frequency of 30-50 times/minute faster than PSVT, and the initial voltage was 20 V. If the PSVT could not be stopped, the stimulation frequency, number of stimulation and output voltage could be increased properly for repeated S1S1 stimulation. If above methods could not work, RS2 stimulation should be used to terminate PSVT. Results PSVT in all patients were terminated by transesophageal atrial pacing. Of them, 28 cases were terminated after the stimulation of S1S1, and 3 cases were terminated after the stimulation of RS2, additionally. The clinical recovery rate was 100%. There was no adverse reaction in the treatment, and the heart rates of fetus were not affected. Conclusions Transesophageal atrial tachycardia is a safe, rapid and repeatable method for termination of PSVT in pregnancy. Key words: Pregnancy; Esophageal atrial pacing; Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia