Can atrial vagal denervation influence ventricular function in a failing heart?

SummaryAtrial fibrillation (AF) and congestive heart failure (CHF) often coexist (AF–CHF), and each adversely affects the other with respect to management and prognosis. Therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs to maintain sinus rhythm was disappointing. Ablation is more successful than antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the prevention of AF with few complications, although in patients with AF–CHF it is noted. Ablating autonomic nerves and ganglia on the large vessels and the heart can result in AF suppression with little damage to healthy myocardium. Our study in patients with AF–CHF found that cardiac function aggravation was more frequent in patients with AF recurrence than that of those who successfully maintain sinus rhythm. The autonomic nervous system is a fine network spreading throughout the myocytes; hence the elimination of atrial vagal with radiofrequency catheter ablation can influence the innervation in sinus and AV nodes even in the ventricular region. Thus we propose that atrial vagal denervation may result in paratherapeutic sympathovagal imbalance in the ventricular region, which has a negative effect in a failing heart, although it is neutralized by the benefit accrued from sinus rhythm after successful ablation.