Psychological traits influence autonomic nervous system recovery following esophageal intubation in health and functional chest pain

A.D. Farmer, S.J. Coen, M. Kano, S.F. Worthen, H.E. Rossiter, H. Navqi, S.M. Scott, P.L. Furlong, Q. Aziz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Esophageal intubation is a widely utilized technique for a diverse array of physiological studies, activating a complex physiological response mediated, in part, by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In order to determine the optimal time period after intubation when physiological observations should be recorded, it is important to know the duration of, and factors that influence, this ANS response, in both health and disease. Methods: Fifty healthy subjects (27 males, median age 31.9 years, range 20-53 years) and 20 patients with Rome III defined functional chest pain (nine male, median age of 38.7 years, range 28-59 years) had personality traits and anxiety measured. Subjects had heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), sympathetic (cardiac sympathetic index, CSI), and parasympathetic nervous system (cardiac vagal tone, CVT) parameters measured at baseline and in response to per nasum intubation with an esophageal catheter. CSI/CVT recovery was measured following esophageal intubation. Key Results: In all subjects, esophageal intubation caused an elevation in HR, BP, CSI, and skin conductance response (SCR; all p < 0.0001) but concomitant CVT and cardiac sensitivity to the baroreflex (CSB) withdrawal (all p < 0.04). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that longer CVT recovery times were independently associated with higher neuroticism (p < 0.001). Patients had prolonged CSI and CVT recovery times in comparison to healthy subjects (112.5 s vs 46.5 s, p = 0.0001 and 549 s vs 223.5 s, p = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions & Inferences: Esophageal intubation activates a flight/flight ANS response. Future studies should allow for at least 10 min of recovery time. Consideration should be given to psychological traits and disease status as these can influence recovery. The psychological trait of neuroticism retards autonomic recovery following esophageal intubation in health and functional chest pain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)950-958
Number of pages9
JournalNeurogastroenterology and Motility
Volume25
Issue number12
Early online date20 Sept 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013

Bibliographical note

This research/ADF was funded by a Medical Research Council project grant. Medical Research Council grant number – MGAB1A1R.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Farmer, A. D., Coen, S. J., Kano, M., Worthen, S. F., Rossiter, H. E., Navqi, H., Scott, S. M., Furlong, P. L., & Aziz, Q. (2013). Psychological traits influence autonomic nervous system recovery following esophageal intubation in health and functional chest pain. Neurogastroenterology and motility, 25(12), 950-958., which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.openathensproxy.aston.ac.uk/doi/10.1111/nmo.12231. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • autonomic nervous system
  • esophageal intubation
  • functional chest pain
  • neuroticism

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