title: Effects of ganglionated plexi ablation on ventricular electrophysiological properties in normal hearts and after acute myocardial ischemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ganglionated plexi (GP) ablation has been shown to play an important role in atrial fibrillation (AF) initiation and maintenance. Also, GP ablation increases chances for prevention of AF recurrence. This study investigated the effects of GP ablation on ventricular electrophysiological properties in normal dog hearts and after acute myocardial ischemia (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty anesthetized dogs were assigned into normal heart group (n=16) and AMI heart group (n=34). Ventricular dynamic restitution, effective refractory period (ERP), electrical alternans and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were measured before and after GP ablation in the normal heart group. In the AMI heart group, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and VFT were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the normal heart group, GP ablation significantly prolonged ERP, facilitated electrical alternans but did not increase ERP dispersion, the slope of restitution curves and its spatial dispersion. Also, GP ablation did not cause significant change of VFT. In the AMI heart group, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias after GP ablation was significantly higher than that in the control group or the GP plus stellate ganglion (SG) ablation group (P<0.05). Spontaneous VF occurred in 8/12, 1/10 and 2/12 dogs in the GP ablation group, the GP plus SG ablation group and the control group, respectively (P<0.05). VFT in the GP ablation group showed a decreased trend though a significant difference was not achieved compared with the control or the GP plus SG ablation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GP ablation increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias in the AMI heart compared to the normal heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University and Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, PR China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhibing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Lilei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Congxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*