An experimental method for thermal control of heart rate: work in progress.
Evaluation of the postoperative course of coronary artery bypass patients shows that a number develop supraventricular arrhythmias that may be responsive to sino-atrial node (SAN) cooling. The sinus rate can be controlled within a clinically useful range with topical cooling probes (thermodes). The data on the variations of heart rate caused by modest nodal hypothermia indicate that a nonpharmacologic clinical system for control of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias is feasible. Prototype thermodes suitable for SAN implantation have been developed.
D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004285:Dogs; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000502:physiology*