Chronic Extrinsic Cardiac Denervation by Regional Neural Ablation: Description of the Operation, Verification of the Denervation, and Its Effects on Myocardial Catecholamines

A technique for complete extrinsic denervation of the heart by the ablation of neural structures in the mediastinum is described. The completeness of denervation was verified by direct electrical stimulation of the main vagal and sympathetic trunks. Total deple tion of myocardial catecholamines followed the procedure in chronic survivors. Animals prepared in this manner are useful in the study of the neurologically isolated heart and simulate this aspect of the problem of cardiac transplantation.