Sympathetic nerve activity during maintaining circulation with only left ventricular assist device.

Maintaining circulation with an left ventricular assist device (LVAD) alone during cardiac arrest until heart transplantation, was evaluated by the use of the sympathetic neurogram. To evaluate the influences of this method on autonomic nervous system, sympathetic neurogram was analyzed by power spectrum and coherence function. In acute animal experiments using mongrel dogs, LVAD were implanted. After the LVAD implantation, ventricular fibrillation was induced electrically. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was detected by the use of bipolar electrodes attached to the left renal sympathetic nerve. Values of squared coherence between the arterial pulse wave and RSNA were calculated. Under the condition of circulatory maintenance with LVAD, coherence at the cardiac rhythm frequency was decreased, and coherence at the LVAD pumping rhythm frequency was increased. These results suggest that the arterial pressure which was observed during maintaining the circulation with only LVAD contributed to sympathetic neurogram.