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Updated: Feb 13, 2026
Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children
Published on: April 29, 2013
Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Cardiac Function in Children After Coarctation Repair
Ineke Nederend1, Eco J C de Geus2, Lucia J M Kroft3
1Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Department of Biological Psychology, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Insights
Children after coarctation of the aorta (CoA) repair show impaired cardiac output and left ventricular function. Autonomic nervous system activity remained unchanged, highlighting the need for ongoing clinical monitoring post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Autonomic Nervous System
Background:
- Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a common congenital heart defect.
- Improved surgical outcomes allow most patients to reach adulthood.
- Late complications like hypertension, recoarctation, and arrhythmias are frequent, suggesting a role for the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cardiac ANS activity and cardiac function in children post-CoA repair.
- To investigate the relationship between cardiac ANS activity and cardiac function in these patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 31 children post-CoA repair and 62 healthy controls (ages 8-18) were studied.
- Ambulatory impedance cardiography monitored cardiac ANS activity and cardiac output over 24 hours.
- Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac MRI assessed cardiac function.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in ambulatory cardiac ANS activity were observed between groups.
- Patients exhibited significantly decreased ambulatory cardiac output compared to controls.
- Left ventricular function was also significantly reduced in the post-CoA repair group.
Conclusions:
- Left ventricular function and cardiac output are impaired in children after CoA repair, irrespective of ANS activity.
- These findings emphasize the necessity of continued clinical follow-up for pediatric CoA patients, even without detectable residual stenosis.
Background:
Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is one of the most common congenital heart defects. Most patients live into adulthood as a result of improved surgical techniques; however, late complications, including hypertension, recoarctation, and arrhythmias, are common. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) might play a role in the pathology. This study evaluated cardiac ANS activity and cardiac function in children after CoA repair and investigated the relationship between the two.
Methods:
The study participants were 31 children after CoA repair and 62 healthy controls aged between 8 and 18 years. Ambulatory impedance cardiography was used to measure cardiac ANS activity and cardiac output for 24 hours. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were used to measure cardiac function.
Results:
No group differences were found in ambulatory cardiac ANS activity. However, ambulatory cardiac output and left ventricular function were significantly decreased in patients compared with controls.
Conclusions:
Left ventricular function and ambulatory cardiac output are impaired in patients after CoA repair, despite unchanged cardiac ANS activity in this group. These results underscore the importance of clinical follow-up, even in patients without residual stenosis.
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