[The ECG--a basic examination method in the cardiology laboratory]

Electrocardiography entertains a centennial anniversary, but it still remains the basic and widely used examination method in heart diseases. Its important position remains even within the framework of basic clinical research, where it represents a starting parameter for the evaluation of other more sophisticated methods of examination. The strengthening of basic research and rapid application of the obtained knowledge in clinical practice were the main reasons for the foundation of the "Laboratory for Research of Blood Circulation Control". The laboratory is particularly engaged in investigating the influence of autonomous nervous system (ANS) in pathophysiology, diagnostics and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. ANS plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure. It has been already sufficiently proved that disorders in ANS function, especially a superfluous increase in the sympathicus activity, significantly participates in the origin and progression of many serious cardiovascular diseases. In spite of the fact that the sympathicus function has been explored relatively in detail, there is still markedly less information on the parasympathicus function. The research in the sympathicus function has been made possible particularly due to the evolution of microneurography. This method makes it possible to directly evaluate the frequency and intensity of nervous impulses, discharge from the brain to the vessels of skeletal muscles. There is still no similar available method for the investigation of parasympathicus. The authors therefore presently investigate a direct short-term and long-term influence of parasympathicus in the blood pressure control by means of implantable vagus stimulator.