Splanchnic Nerve Block: An Emerging Treatment for Heart Failure

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a disease syndrome whose management is increasingly challenging given the aging population and efficacious management of acute cardiac events. The current treatment options within our armamentarium incompletely address the unmet needs of HF. Splanchnic nerve block (SNB) is a novel technique that targets the greater splanchnic nerve, a potential therapeutic target in HF. However, the technique confers potential adverse side effects and complications that warrant further investigations. In this review paper, we aim to discuss the inextricable role of splanchnic nerve in HF by highlighting their physiological interplay, clinical studies that have exhibited favorable hemodynamic parameters in the context of acute and chronic HF, and common side effects and possible complications from SNB.