A number of cardiovascular and neurological diseases are characterized by a dysregulation of intravascular volume distribution. The veins and arteries of the visceral organs form the so-called splanchnic vascular compartment and are the largest reservoir for intravascular blood. The blood localized in the splanchnic compartment can be mobilized in and out of the compartment via passive compression or active neurohormonal recruitment. We studied the hemodynamic effects of splanchnic nerve stimulation during five cases of irreversible electroporation (IRE) in patients with pancreatic cancer. In IRE, repeated bursts of high-voltage electrical fields are applied to visceral beds for >1 min, which induces rapid increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output. We present the first analysis into the hemodynamic changes with splanchnic nerve stimulation and explore potential mechanisms of the hyperdynamic state. Our analysis presents the first human report of splanchnic nerve stimulation to induce hypertension and volume redistribution, introducing the splanchnic nerves as a key component of cardiovascular regulation. Our case series provides the first detailed description of human hemodynamic effects with splanchnic nerve stimulation. Splanchnic nerve stimulation results in profound hemodynamic alteration with rapid onset of hypertension and blood mobilization.
Systolic and diastolic left ventricular dyssynchrony, as measured by using GSPECT MPI, were associated with adverse outcomes. Moreover, diastolic dyssynchrony appears to provide incremental predictive value to clinical history, electrical dyssynchrony, and left ventricular function.
BackgroundMineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy may be beneficial to patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but little is known about their use in patients with AF and subsequent outcomes.Methods and ResultsIn order to better understand MRA use and subsequent outcomes, we performed a retrospective cohort study of the contemporary ORBIT‐AF (Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation) registry. AF progression and cardiovascular outcomes were compared using propensity‐matched Cox proportional hazards modeling according to MRA use at baseline and new MRA use at follow‐up versus patients with no MRA use. Among 7012 patients with nonpermanent AF, 320 patients were taking MRA at enrollment, and 416 patients initiated MRA use during follow‐up. The mean patient age was 72.5 years, 56.3% were men, and 70.4% had paroxysmal AF. Among all patients taking MRAs, 434 (59.0%) had heart failure, 655 (89.0%) had hypertension, and 380 (51.6%) had both. After adjustment, new MRA use was not associated with reduced AF progression (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.88–1.58; P=0.27) but showed a trend towards lower risk of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic embolism (hazard ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.02–1.23; P=0.08). Results were similar for a comparison of new MRA users and baseline MRA users compared with nonusers.ConclusionsIn community‐based outpatients with AF, the majority of MRA use was for heart failure and hypertension. MRA use also trended towards lower adjusted stroke risk. Future studies should test the hypothesis that MRA use may decrease the risk of stroke in patients with AF.
Background
Focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM) can cause slowing, organization, and occasionally termination of atrial fibrillation (AF), although results have been mixed. To further characterize changes in AF during rotor ablation, we quantified morphologic and temporal activation changes following FIRM.
Methods
In patients undergoing FIRM ablation for AF, we retrospectively analyzed coronary sinus bipolar EGMs before and after rotor ablation, including EGM activation frequency and regularity, dominant frequency (DF), and organizational index (OI). Changes in EGM waveform morphology were determined with recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) consisting of recurrence rate (RR), determinism (DET), laminarity (LAM), average diagonal line length (L), and trapping time (TT) using Wilcoxon signed‐rank testing.
Results
Overall, 36 rotors from 21 patients undergoing FIRM ablation were analyzed. All morphology RQA parameters demonstrated significant organization of atrial activation after rotor ablation (RR P = .03, DET P = .005, LAM P = .03, L P = .005, TT P = .009). The organizational index also showed a significant increase after rotor ablation (P = .01), and the change in OI correlated with changes in all morphology parameters. Of the rotors, 14/36 (39%) rotors showed organizational changes in all morphology parameters and OI, and an additional 5 rotors (19/36, 53%) showed organizational changes in 4 of 5 morphology parameters and OI.
Conclusions
Coronary sinus EGM waveform morphologies and activation patterns are significantly altered after FIRM ablation even when there is no fibrillatory slowing. RQA morphology analysis and organizational index may impart important information regarding underlying AF organization and may be useful in quantifying the acute response to ablation.
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