Vagus nerve stimulation improves left ventricular function in a canine model of chronic heart failure.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Autonomic dysfunction is a feature of chronic heart failure (HF). This study tested the hypothesis that chronic open-loop electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) improves LV structure and function in canines with chronic HF.

Methods and results

Twenty-six canines with HF (EF ∼35%) produced by intracoronary microembolizations were implanted with a bipolar cuff electrode around the right cervical vagus nerve and connected to an implantable pulse generator. The canines were enrolled in Control (n = 7) vs. VNS therapy (n = 7) or a crossover study, with crossovers occurring at 3 months (C × VNS, n = 6; VNS × C, n = 6). After 6 months of VNS, LVEF and LV end-systolic volume (ESV) were significantly improved compared with Control (ΔEF Control -4.6 ± 0.9% vs. VNS 6.0 ± 1.6%, P

SUBMITTER: Hamann JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3895958 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature