Comparison of atrial fibrillation inducibility by electrical stimulation of either the extrinsic or the intrinsic autonomic nervous systems.

Objectives: To study the effects of bilateral vagosympathetic nerve stimulation (VNS) and ganglionated plexi stimulation (GPS) on atrial refractoriness and inducibility of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Studies were performed in fourteen adult mongrel dogs anesthetized with Na-pentobarbital, 30 mg/kg. VNS was achieved by insertion of wires into the left and right VN trunks.