Editorial Autonomic Modulation An Emerging Paradigm for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

A variety of experimental and clinical reports have en-gendered a different approach to cardiac arrhythmias as well as other cardiovascular conditions. The focus of a new paradigm is the autonomic nervous system and its important role in various pathological states. From an overall stand-point, this new paradigm can be encompassed by the term “autonomic modulation, ” which would include autonomic nerve stimulation or autonomic denervation to modulate the autonomic activity in physiological or pathophysiological functions of the heart as well as other visceral organ systems. Article see p 279 Vaso-vagal syncope is the most common form of neurally mediated syncope.1 The pathophysiology of vaso-vagal syncope is still controversial, but it is thought to be related to prolonged orthostatic stress, which causes increased peripheral venous pooling with a subsequent fall in venous return to the heart. Thi