BackgroundThe autonomic nervous system plays a central role in cardiovascular regulation;
sympathetic activation occurs during myocardial ischemia. ObjectiveTo assess the spectral analysis of heart rate variability during stent
implantation, comparing the types of stent. MethodsThis study assessed 61 patients (mean age, 64.0 years; 35 men) with ischemic heart
disease and indication for stenting. Stent implantation was performed under Holter
monitoring to record the spectral analysis of heart rate variability (Fourier
transform), measuring the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components,
and the LF/HF ratio before and during the procedure. ResultsBare-metal stent was implanted in 34 patients, while the others received
drug-eluting stents. The right coronary artery was approached in 21 patients, the
left anterior descending, in 28, and the circumflex, in 9. As compared with the
pre-stenting period, all patients showed an increase in LF and HF during stent
implantation (658 versus 185 ms2, p = 0.00; 322 versus 121, p = 0.00,
respectively), with no change in LF/HF. During stent implantation, LF was 864 ms2
in patients with bare-metal stents, and 398 ms2 in those with drug-eluting stents
(p = 0.00). The spectral analysis of heart rate variability showed no association
with diabetes mellitus, family history, clinical presentation, beta-blockers, age,
and vessel or its segment. ConclusionsStent implantation resulted in concomitant sympathetic and vagal activations.
Diabetes mellitus, use of beta-blockers, and the vessel approached showed no
influence on the spectral analysis of heart rate variability. Sympathetic
activation was lower during the implantation of drug-eluting stents.