Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025
04:29
Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
28.6K
Selective efferent vagal stimulation in heart failure
Lindsea C Booth1, Baagavi Saseetharan1, Clive N May1
1Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Experimental Physiology
|September 27, 2023
Summary
Vagal nerve stimulation shows mixed results for heart failure patients. New methods selectively target cardiac-projecting vagal fibers, offering a potential treatment for heart failure by improving therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Heart failure presents significant mortality and morbidity challenges.
- Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) trials for heart failure yielded inconsistent results.
- Current VNS limitations include non-selective fiber recruitment and unknown therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of selectively targeting cardiac-projecting efferent vagal fibers.
- To introduce a novel method for selective vagal nerve stimulation in heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Focus on efferent vagal fibers originating from the dorsal motor nucleus.
- Review of selective targeting techniques for these specific neural pathways.
- Exploration of vagal nerve stimulation as a therapeutic strategy.
Main Results:
- Selective recruitment of specific vagal fibers is crucial for effective VNS.
- Identifying and targeting cardiac-projecting vagal fibers may enhance treatment efficacy.
- Preclinical data suggests potential benefits of targeted VNS.
Conclusions:
- Selective vagal nerve stimulation targeting cardiac projections offers a promising therapeutic avenue for heart failure.
- Further research into targeted VNS is warranted to overcome limitations of current approaches.
- This approach may improve outcomes for heart failure patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
16
Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
16
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents
611
Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...
611
01:22Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers
357
β-adrenergic antagonists, commonly known as β-blockers, block the effects of sympathetic neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR). They have several beneficial effects in heart failure treatment. They reduce heart rate, the force of contraction, and cardiac muscle relaxation. They also slow the atrial-ventricular conduction rate and raise the threshold for arrhythmias. The concentration of β-blockers determines their effects on bronchodilation,...
357
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
14
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
14
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
12
Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
12
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
454
The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
454