Concept: Electrical cardiac stimulation is detected by the cardiac autonomic nervous system with possible effects on the vasovagal reflex

Abstract

A novel concept is described concerning the possible effect of right ventricular pacing stimulation being detected by the cardiac autonomic nervous system and through its afferent neuronal connection to the central autonomic nervous system (spinal cord) causing reversal or attenuation of the vasovagal reflex. This could be a direct effect of electrical stimulation or may occur by the known adverse consequences on ventricular synchrony induced by stimulation which could be right ventricular site and timing in the evolution of the vasovagal reflex dependent.

Keywords

• cardiac autonomic nervous system
• electrical cardiac stimulation
• interference in the vasovagal reflex
• vagus nerve
• vasovagal reflex