Swallowing-induced arrhythmia.

Deglutition tachyarrhythmia, first reported in 1926 by Sakai and Mori, is a rare clinical entity. Vagal reflex has been supposed to be responsible for the induction of the arrhythmia. We have recently studied a patient with swallowing-induced premature atrial contractions. Atropine sulfate and catecholamine infusion increased the frequency of the arrhythmia, while beta blockade suppressed it. It is suggested that the mechanism of the swallowing-induced arrhythmia might be related to a sympathetic reflex. As far as we know, there have been few reports in which the sympathetic reflex was proposed to be responsible for the arrhythmia.