The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 53, 648-649, Copyright © 1992 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Salvage transvenous rapid atrial pacing to terminate atrial flutter after cardiac operations
BJ Amsel and PJ Walter
Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
Atrial flutter occurring after cardiac operations normally responds well to
atrial overdrive pacing through epicardial atrial pacing wires and
medication. When this fails, transvenous atrial overpacing offers an
attractive alternative. We performed the procedure 29 times in 25 patients.
Sinus rhythm returned acutely after 25 procedures in 21 patients and
persisted with medication in 20 patients at follow-up. The procedure was
well tolerated by all.