Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia

Abstract Background The differential diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) is essential during radiofrequency‐(RF) ablation. The extracardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS), introduced in 2015, offers new insights for electrophysiological studies and ablation, allowing controlled cardiac vagal...

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Main Authors: Jose Carlos Pachon‐M, Enrique Pachon‐M, Tasso Lobo, Tomas Santillana‐P, Carlos Pachon, Juan Pachon‐M, Christian Higuti, Maria Zelia Pachon, John Clark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Arrhythmia
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.70134
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author Jose Carlos Pachon‐M
Enrique Pachon‐M
Tasso Lobo
Tomas Santillana‐P
Carlos Pachon
Juan Pachon‐M
Christian Higuti
Maria Zelia Pachon
John Clark
author_facet Jose Carlos Pachon‐M
Enrique Pachon‐M
Tasso Lobo
Tomas Santillana‐P
Carlos Pachon
Juan Pachon‐M
Christian Higuti
Maria Zelia Pachon
John Clark
author_sort Jose Carlos Pachon‐M
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The differential diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) is essential during radiofrequency‐(RF) ablation. The extracardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS), introduced in 2015, offers new insights for electrophysiological studies and ablation, allowing controlled cardiac vagal effect. Methods Prospective study of 625 SVT ablation patients. ECVS was performed using a regular electrophysiology catheter to study atrioventricular (AV) and ventriculo‐atrial (VA) conduction and their effects on tachycardia. Baseline ECVS was performed to determine the optimal position for right or left ECVS, near the jugular foramen. ECVS was repeated during atrial and ventricular pacing (VP) to monitor the procedure's progression and ensure successful endpoints. Results ECVS was successful in 611/625 patients (98%), 381 (62.3%) had AV node reentry tachycardia‐(AVNRT), and 230 (37.6%) accessory pathway (AP), including 135‐(58.7%) anterograde AP (WPW) and 95 (41.3%) concealed AP. ECVS + VP in 33 patients with atypical AVNRT yielded VA block in 32‐(97%), suggesting VA conduction solely via the AV node. In contrast, 57 patients with concealed para‐septal AP maintained VA conduction during ECVS, confirming AP. ECVS proved to be a fast, reliable, and practical additional EP tool: VA block indicated AVNRT, while persistent VA conduction suggested AP. Additionally, ECVS was highly effective in revealing and confirming successful AP ablation by demonstrating the absence of AV and VA anomalous conduction. Conclusion ECVS was a valuable tool in the diagnosis and ablation of SVTs. It allowed reproducible AV and VA block through normal pathways, easily identifying AVNRT and concealed, intermittent, or subtle AP. It was particularly useful in complex cases involving concealed AP and atypical AVNRT tachycardia.
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spelling doaj-art-a4a2e9adcf98425bb4c7b0529b0ce56a2025-08-26T10:38:54ZengWileyJournal of Arrhythmia1880-42761883-21482025-08-01414n/an/a10.1002/joa3.70134Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardiaJose Carlos Pachon‐M0Enrique Pachon‐M1Tasso Lobo2Tomas Santillana‐P3Carlos Pachon4Juan Pachon‐M5Christian Higuti6Maria Zelia Pachon7John Clark8São Paulo University São Paulo BrazilSão Paulo University São Paulo BrazilSão Paulo Heart Hospital São Paulo BrazilSão Paulo Heart Hospital São Paulo BrazilSão Paulo Heart Hospital São Paulo BrazilSão Paulo University São Paulo BrazilSão Paulo Heart Hospital São Paulo BrazilSão Paulo Heart Hospital São Paulo BrazilAkron Children's Hospital Akron Ohio USAAbstract Background The differential diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) is essential during radiofrequency‐(RF) ablation. The extracardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS), introduced in 2015, offers new insights for electrophysiological studies and ablation, allowing controlled cardiac vagal effect. Methods Prospective study of 625 SVT ablation patients. ECVS was performed using a regular electrophysiology catheter to study atrioventricular (AV) and ventriculo‐atrial (VA) conduction and their effects on tachycardia. Baseline ECVS was performed to determine the optimal position for right or left ECVS, near the jugular foramen. ECVS was repeated during atrial and ventricular pacing (VP) to monitor the procedure's progression and ensure successful endpoints. Results ECVS was successful in 611/625 patients (98%), 381 (62.3%) had AV node reentry tachycardia‐(AVNRT), and 230 (37.6%) accessory pathway (AP), including 135‐(58.7%) anterograde AP (WPW) and 95 (41.3%) concealed AP. ECVS + VP in 33 patients with atypical AVNRT yielded VA block in 32‐(97%), suggesting VA conduction solely via the AV node. In contrast, 57 patients with concealed para‐septal AP maintained VA conduction during ECVS, confirming AP. ECVS proved to be a fast, reliable, and practical additional EP tool: VA block indicated AVNRT, while persistent VA conduction suggested AP. Additionally, ECVS was highly effective in revealing and confirming successful AP ablation by demonstrating the absence of AV and VA anomalous conduction. Conclusion ECVS was a valuable tool in the diagnosis and ablation of SVTs. It allowed reproducible AV and VA block through normal pathways, easily identifying AVNRT and concealed, intermittent, or subtle AP. It was particularly useful in complex cases involving concealed AP and atypical AVNRT tachycardia.https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.70134ablationaccessory pathwayCardioneuroablationsupraventricular tachycardiaWolff‐Parkinson‐White
spellingShingle Jose Carlos Pachon‐M
Enrique Pachon‐M
Tasso Lobo
Tomas Santillana‐P
Carlos Pachon
Juan Pachon‐M
Christian Higuti
Maria Zelia Pachon
John Clark
Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia
Journal of Arrhythmia
ablation
accessory pathway
Cardioneuroablation
supraventricular tachycardia
Wolff‐Parkinson‐White
title Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia
title_full Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia
title_fullStr Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia
title_full_unstemmed Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia
title_short Extra‐cardiac vagal stimulation: Clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia
title_sort extra cardiac vagal stimulation clinical utility of a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool in supraventricular tachycardia
topic ablation
accessory pathway
Cardioneuroablation
supraventricular tachycardia
Wolff‐Parkinson‐White
url https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.70134
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