Intravenous vagal nerve stimulation reduced heart rate from 237.5±47.8 to 213.7±41.0 bpm in dogs with AF tachycardia without changing arterial pressure or cardiac output.
Does intravenous vagal nerve stimulation reduce heart rate without hemodynamic compromise in a canine model of atrial fibrillation with tachycardia?
Intravenous vagal nerve stimulation rapidly and reversibly reduces heart rate without compromising hemodynamics in a canine model of AF tachycardia.
Abstract Background Appropriate heart rate (HR) control is challenging in heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or tachycardia due to the negative inotropic effect of most bradycardic agents. Parasympathetic nervous system is the primary determinant of HR for quick control of hemodynamic homeostasis. We have developed a basket-shaped catheter for intravenous vagal nerve stimulation (iVNS) which directly modulates the parasympathetic nervous system. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the impact of iVNS catheter on HR, hemodynamics and cardiac metabolism in a canine model with AF tachycardia. Methods We used six beagle dogs (10.8 ± 0.6 kg), inserted iVNS catheter from femoral vein, and placed it in superior vena cava. We induced AF with atrial high-frequency stimulation (20Hz) under isoproterenol administration, and applied iVNS at 10–20 V (20 Hz) for 3-min. We simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram, arterial pressure (AP) and cardiac output (CO) and calculated myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO₂) from oxygen saturation of coronary sinus and artery and coronary flow. We compared HR, hemodynamics, and MVO₂ between baseline and during iVNS. Results The iVNS decreased HR immediately after the onset of stimulation and HR promptly returned to baseline as soon as the stimulation is discontinued. While iVNS significantly reduced HR (baseline: 237.5±47.8 vs. iVNS: 213.7±41.0 bpm, p0.01), while did not change mean AP (57.4±13.8 vs. 57.7±13.2 mmHg, p=0.23) and cardiac output (1.57±0.58 vs. 1.56±0.68 ml/min, p=0.87). The iVNS tended to decrease MVO₂ but statistically not significant in this limited cohort (4.86±2.86 vs. 4.11±2.18 ml/100g LV weight, p=0.11). Conclusion iVNS rapidly decreased HR in a canine model with AF tachycardia, and HR immediately returned to baseline without hemodynamic collapse in when simulation was discontinued. It has a potential to develop an alternative treatment for AF tachycardia, especially unstable hemodynamic condition.The effects of iVNS on HR, AP and CO. Hemodynamic and myocardial oxygen consum
Watanabe et al. (2025) studied this question. Intravenous vagal nerve stimulation reduced heart rate from 237.5±47.8 to 213.7±41.0 bpm in dogs with AF tachycardia without changing arterial pressure or cardiac output.