Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
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Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: September 24, 2021
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Role of Autonomic Dysfunction in Initiating Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in a Canine Sterile Pericarditis Model
Seungyup Lee1,2, Don W Wallick1, Celeen Khrestian1
1Departments of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|June 10, 2025
Summary
Autonomic dysfunction did not induce atrial ectopic triggers or postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in a canine model. This suggests a lower POAF incidence in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients compared to valvular surgery patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Autonomic dysfunction, characterized by increased sympathetic activity and altered vagal tone, is implicated in initiating postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF).
- Atrial ectopic triggers, arising from autonomic imbalance, can precipitate POAF, particularly with pre-existing atrial substrates like inflammation or remodeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal link between autonomic dysfunction and the generation of atrial ectopic triggers or POAF.
- To test this hypothesis using a canine model of sterile pericarditis.
Main Methods:
- Ten dogs with sterile pericarditis were subjected to autonomic dysfunction induction via stellate ganglion nerve stimulation (SNS) with or without vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
- Atrial ectopic triggers and heart rate (HR) were monitored during induced autonomic dysfunction over a 2-hour period.
Main Results:
- Sustained POAF was induced by burst pacing in 50% of animals.
- Autonomic dysfunction significantly altered heart rate, with SNS alone increasing HR and SNS+VNS decreasing it.
- Atrial ectopic triggers were observed in only 10% of animals and did not precipitate POAF.
Conclusions:
- Atrial ectopic triggers associated with autonomic dysfunction were infrequent and did not induce POAF in this canine model.
- The low incidence of triggers suggests a potential mechanism for the lower observed POAF rates in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients compared to those undergoing valvular surgery.
