Embodiments of the present invention provide a nasogastric tube for deflecting an esophagus during an ablation procedure. According to one embodiment, the nasogastric tube includes a flexible tube comprising at least one lumen having proximal and distal ends, and an esophageal deflector positioned within the at least one lumen and configured to be mechanically actuated using an axial force applied in a distal direction such that the esophageal deflector assumes a curved profile and deflects a portion of the tube between the proximal and distal ends. The esophageal deflector is configured to deflect the portion of the tube proximate to a retrocardiac portion of the esophagus such that the retrocardiac portion of the esophagus is deflected away from an ablation site.
