Cardioneural Ablation for Functional Bradycardia and Vasovagal Syncope: Outcomes From the U.S. Multicenter CNA...

Cardioneural ablation (CNA) shows promise as a viable alternative to permanent cardiac pacing and pharmacotherapy for patients with symptomatic functional bradycardia and debilitating vasovagal syncope (VVS). The evidence supporting a potential therapeutic role for CNA is limited by relatively small sample sizes from predominantly single-center reports.

This study sought to report the feasibility, safety, and clinical efficacy of CNA from a large, first-ever multicenter US registry.

A multicenter registry from 15 US sites was established by collecting data from consecutive patients undergoing CNA for recurrent VVS or symptomatic functional bradycardia (sinus bradycardia [SB] or atrioventricular block [AVB]) refractory to medical therapy and behavioral modification (2018-2024).

A total of 205 patients who underwent 210 CNA procedures were included. The mean age was 47 ± 17 years, 49% were female, and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction was 60% ± 5%. The most common indication for CNA was syncope in 66.3% (VVS 61.5%, syncope related to AVB 4.9%), followed by SB in 31.2%, AVB in 1.5%, or both SB and AVB in 0.9%. An anatomical approach to target typical ganglionated plexus locations was implemented in all cases, with high-frequency stimulation in 47% of procedures. Endocardial ablation targeting ganglionated plexuses was performed in both atria in 77%, with 697 ± 515 seconds of radiofrequency application. Vagal and sympathetic responses during ablation were observed in 52% and 73% of cases, respectively. The mean increase in heart rate immediately after ablation was 20 ± 15 beats/min. Complications were observed in 4.7% of procedures: 2 respiratory failures requiring bilevel positive airway pressure, 1 right diaphragmatic paralysis, and 4 sinus node dysfunction, with a major adverse event rate of 1.4% (2 hemopericardium, 1 death). At a mean follow-up of 14 ± 11 months, 78% of patients with syncope remained free from recurrence, with a reduction in episodes from a median of 7 (4-15) episodes to a median of 0 (0-0) episodes. Overall, 97% of the cohort remained free from pacemaker implantation.

In the largest multicenter CNA experience to date, acceleration of baseline heart rate and a significant reduction in syncope burden were achieved with an acceptable rate of major procedural complications. These observational data pave the way for future randomized trials to evolve CNA indications beyond compassionate usage for managing functional bradycardia and reflex syncope.