Changes in Heart Rate Variability after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Clinical Importance of These Findings

Abstract

Heart rate variability is a physiological feature indicating the influence of the autonomic nervous system on the heart rate. Association of the reduced heart rate variability due to myocardial infarction and the increased postinfarction mortality was first described more than thirty years ago. Many studies have unequivocally demonstrated that coronary artery bypass grafting surgery generally leads to significant reduction in heart rate variability, which is even more pronounced than after myocardial infarction. Pathophysiologically, however, the mechanisms of heart rate variability reduction associated with acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass grafting are different. Generally, heart rate variability gradually recovers to the preoperative values within six months of the procedure. Unlike the reduced heart rate variability in patients having sustained myocardial infarction, a finding of reduced heart rate variability after coronary artery bypass surgery is not considered relevant in predicting mortality. Current knowledge about changes in heart rate variability in coronary patients and clinical relevance of such a finding in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting are presented.

Effect of a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Procedure on Heart Rate Variability and Pulse Transit Time Variability: A Comparison Study Based on Fuzzy Measure Entropy

“…However, they were in opposition to the results reported by Tseng et al [15], where the HRV parameters recorded before PCI procedure did not differ significantly from those assessed directly after the PCI procedure. Moreover, many studies have demonstrated that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) also leads to significant HRV reduction, which is even more pronounced than after myocardial infarction [10][11][12][13]. In addition, HRV reduction after cardiac surgery is not exclusively related to PCI or CABG, as it is also recorded in patients undergoing valve surgery [14].…”

“…In addition, HRV reduction after cardiac surgery is not exclusively related to PCI or CABG, as it is also recorded in patients undergoing valve surgery [14]. Unlike myocardial infarction where the main reason of the HRV reduction is ischaemia and myocyte necrosis, the probable reasons for considerable HRV reduction immediately after PCI or CABG include a combined effect of surgical manipulation during operative procedure on the heart and adjacent anatomical structures, prolonged anaesthesia [29,30] and cardioplegia [10].…”

“…Studies have invariably demonstrated that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) also leads to significant HRV reduction [10][11][12][13]. In addition, HRV reduction after cardiac surgery is not exclusively related to PCI or CABG, as it is also recorded in patients undergoing valve surgery [14].…”

Acute effects of different resistance training loads on cardiac autonomic modulation in hypertensive postmenopausal women

“…The autonomic nervous system (ANS) has an important role in regulating physiological processes both in normal and pathological conditions [4, 5]. Individuals with AH typically have an ANS imbalance with greater performance and predominance of sympathetic ANS [6–8].…”

Influence of Beta-2-Adrenergic Receptor Gln27Glu Polymorphism on the Autonomic Heart Rate Modulation in Young Sedentary and Physically Active Women

“…Heart activity is largely modulated by the autonomic nervous system, which promotes rapid adjustments in the cardiovascular system during different stimuli (i.e., physical exercise, mental stress and postural change) [1,2]. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive measure used to analyze the influence of the autonomic nervous parasympathetic contributions to consecutive HR oscillations.…”