Selective ablation of the ligament of Marshall reduces ischemia and reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias

The protective role of vagus nerve stimulation in ischemia-reperfusion injury

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) encompasses the damage resulting from the restoration of blood supply following tissue ischemia. This phenomenon commonly occurs in clinical scenarios such as hemorrhagic shock, severe trauma, organ transplantation, and thrombolytic therapy. Despite its prevalence, existing treatments exhibit limited efficacy against IRI. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a widely utilized technique for modulating the autonomic nervous system. Numerous studies have demonstrated that VNS significantly reduces IRI in various organs, including the heart, brain, and liver. This article reviews the pathological processes during IRI and summarizes the role and possible mechanisms of VNS in IRI of different organs. Furthermore, this review addresses the current challenges of VNS clinical applications, providing a novel perspective on IRI treatment.

Autonomic Neuromodulation for Preventing and Treating Ventricular Arrhythmias

The cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) is associated with modulation of cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis. In this mini review, we will briefly introduce cardiac autonomic anatomy and autonomic activity in ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and discuss novel approaches of CANS modulation for treating VAs. Studies over the decades have provided a better understanding of cardiac autonomic innervation and revealed overwhelming evidence of the relationship between autonomic tone and VAs. A high sympathetic tone and low parasympathetic (vagal) tone are considered as the major triggers of VAs in patients with myocardial ischemia, which can cause sudden cardiac death. In recent years, novel methods of autonomic neuromodulation have been investigated to prevent VAs, and they have been verified as being beneficial for malignant VAs in animal models and humans. The clinical outcome of autonomic neuromodulation depends on the level of cardiac neuraxis, stimulation parameters, and patient's pathological status. Since autonomic modulation for VA treatment is still in the early stage of clinical application, more basic and clinical studies should be performed to clarify these mechanisms and optimize autonomic neuromodulation therapies for patients with VAs in the future.