Abstract： Objective To evaluate the safety and possibility of transesophageal emergency ventricular pacing with esophageal balloonelectrode catheter.Methods Sixty four patients with critical bradyarrhythmias were divided randomly to receive either transesophagealventricular pacing with esophageal balloon electrode catheter(balloon.catheter group,n=32),or transesophageai ventricular pacing withnormal esophageal electrode catheter(normal catheter group,n=32).Pulse width(ms),current output(mA),and the success rate werecompared between the 2 groups.Results Success rate in the balloon catheter group was 87.5%,which was significantly higher thanthat in the nodal catheter group(18.7%,X2=27.7,P＜0.01).The success rate oftransesophageal ventricular pacing with esophagealballoon electrode catheter was 87.5%.The average current output(mA)was significantly lower in the balloon catheter group than thatin the normal catheter group (24.5+2.5 mA VS 53±3.4mA,P＜0.05).Conclusions Esophageal balloon electrode catheter pacing couldbecome an available teclmiqBe for transesophageal emergency ventricular pacing.