• Jessica de Vries, Rutger L Anthonio, Mike J L Dejongste, Gillian A Jessurun, Eng-Shiong Tan, Bart J G L de Smet, Ad F M van den Heuvel, Michiel J Staal, and Felix Zijlstra.
• Dept of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.de.vries@thorax.umcg.nl
• Bmc Cardiovasc Disor. 2007 Jan 1;7:18.

BackgroundElectrical neurostimulation can be used to treat patients with refractory angina, it reduces angina and ischemia. Previous data have suggested that electrical neurostimulation may alleviate myocardial ischaemia through increased collateral perfusion. We investigated the effect of electrical neurostimulation on functional collateral perfusion, assessed by distal coronary pressure measurement during acute coronary occlusion. We sought to study the effect of electrical neurostimulation on collateral perfusion.MethodsSixty patients with stable angina and significant coronary artery disease planned for elective percutaneous coronary intervention were split in two groups. In all patients two balloon inflations of 60 seconds were performed, the first for balloon dilatation of the lesion (first episode), the second for stent delivery (second episode). The Pw/Pa ratio (wedge pressure/aortic pressure) was measured during both ischaemic episodes. Group 1 received 5 minutes of active neurostimulation before plus 1 minute during the first episode, group 2 received 5 minutes of active neurostimulation before plus 1 minute during the second episode.ResultsIn group 1 the Pw/Pa ratio decreased by 10 +/- 22% from 0.20 +/- 0.09 to 0.19 +/- 0.09 (p = 0.004) when electrical neurostimulation was deactivated. In group 2 the Pw/Pa ratio increased by 9 +/- 15% from 0.22 +/- 0.09 to 0.24 +/- 0.10 (p = 0.001) when electrical neurostimulation was activated.ConclusionElectrical neurostimulation induces a significant improvement in the Pw/Pa ratio during acute coronary occlusion.

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