Pathophysiologic Mechanisms in Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System and Arrhythmias

Abstract

The autonomic nervous system, including the central nervous system and the cardiac plexus, maintains cardiac physiology. In diseased states, autonomic changes through neuronal remodeling generate electrical mechanisms of arrhythmia such as triggered activity or increased automaticity. This article will focus on the pathophysiological mechanisms of arrhythmia to highlight the role of the autonomic nervous system in disease and the related therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Arrhythmias; Autonomic nervous system; Cardiomyopathy; Neural remodeling; Neurocardiology; Stellate ganglion; Sympathetic innervation.