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Physiological consequences of complete cardiac denervation
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Insights
Transplanted human hearts stay denervated for years, preventing pain. Studying these hearts reveals insights into both transplant physiology and normal heart function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The transplanted human heart is functionally denervated for over five years post-surgery.
- This denervation impacts cardiac function and prevents transplant recipients from experiencing ischemic pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the physiological implications of a denervated transplanted heart.
- To gain insights into the function of the normally innervated heart through the study of its denervated counterpart.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of post-operative cardiac denervation.
- Analysis of cardiac function in transplanted hearts.
- Comparative physiology between denervated and innervated hearts.
Main Results:
- Sustained functional denervation of the human transplanted heart for 5+ years.
- Absence of ischemic pain sensation in heart transplant recipients.
- Demonstration of unique physiological characteristics in the denervated cardiac state.
Conclusions:
- The denervated transplanted heart serves as a model for understanding cardiac denervation.
- Insights from denervated hearts contribute to knowledge of normal cardiac physiology.
- Further research into denervation impacts cardiac function and patient monitoring.
Abstract:
The transplanted human heart remains functionally denervated for 5 or more years postoperatively. Denervation has a number of implications for cardiac function, not the least of which is the inability of transplant recipients to experience ischaemic pain. The study of the denervated heart has not only shed light on the physiology of cardiac transplantation but also provided further insights into the functioning of the normally innervated heart.