Transesophageal pacing technique in the estimation of sinus node function.

A personal noninvasive transesophageal pacing technique for the estimation of sinus node function is presented. With a pacemaker device and an esophageal pentapolar catheter, using a correction factor for the left atrial site of stimulation, it is possible to calculate the sinus node recovery time, sinoatrial conduction time and sinus node effective refractory period, before and after autonomic blockade as accurately as by the intracavitary technique.