Greater Splanchnic Nerve Stimulation in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Abstrakt

Volume redistribution has been proposed as a mechanism of acute decompensation in chronic heart failure (CHF). The splanchnic vascular compartment is one of the largest reservoirs of intravascular blood volume.

Neurogenic control of the vascular bed is provided by the greater splanchnic nerve (GSN). In healthy subjects, GSN stimulation rapidly increases cardiac preload and afterload, which revert to baseline within a minute of ceasing stimulation (1,2).

We hypothesize that GSN activation in CHF could precipitate cardiac decompensation. Accordingly, we tested the effects of GSN stimulation in a patient with CHF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using a novel catheter-based approach.