title: Position-dependent changes in vagal modulation after coronary artery bypass grafting.
abstract: Reduced cardiac vagal modulation increases propensity to arrhythmias. Right decubitus position is a vagal enhancer in coronary and congestive heart disease. We evaluated vagal modulation before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 30 patients. Heart rate variability (HRV) indexes in frequency domain were calculated from 10-min digital electrocardiograms. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and paired t-tests were applied, p<0.05 was considered significant. The HRV indexes decreased after CABG. Higher LF/HF ratio and shorter mean RR were observed in right recumbent position postoperatively. Right lateral decubitus position did not give rise to higher vagal modulation after heart surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. jurij-matija.kalisnik@mf.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: Jurij-Matija
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kalisnik
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Avbelj
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trobec
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gersak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*