Left sympathetic surgical blockade in systolic heart failure patients with optimal medical therapy

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic nervous system modulation is the cornerstone treatment for systolic heart failure (SHF). We sought to evaluate the feasibility, safety and potential beneficial effects of additional surgical sympathetic blockade in SHF patients. METHODS: In this prospective randomised controlled trial, inclusion criteria were: NYHA functional class II or III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) = 40%, sinus rhythm and resting heart rate >65 bpm, despite optimal medical therapy (MT). Fifteen patients were randomly assigned in a 1:2 basis either to MT alone or MT plus surgical treatment (ST). ST consisted of left lower 1/3 stellar ganglion and T3-T4 thoracic interspinal space videothoracoscopic clipping. Primary endpoints were feasibility and safety. Secondary endpoints were changes in clinical status, exercise capacity, quality of life, LVEF and remodeling by echocardiography and heart rate before and after 6 months of randomisation. RESULTS: 10 patients underwent ST and there were no adverse events attributable to surgery. ST improved: LVEF (25±6.6 vs 33±5.2, p=0.03); 6 -min walking distance in meters (167±35 vs 198±47), p=0.02); 24h-Holter mean HR (77±5 vs 72±4, p=0.0003; MLHFQ score (48±10 vs 40±14, p=0.01. 123IMIBG radionuclide scan heart/mediastinum ratio, LV end diastolic diameter, sympathetic peripheral nerve activity, peak VO2, LVEF by Gated, serum BNP levels and 24h Holter NN standard deviation were unchanged. Two patients died at each group. Clinical status improvement was only observed at ST. CONCLUSIONS: ST was feasible and safe in SHF patients. Its beneficial effects warrant the development of a larger randomized trial.