Methods and systems are provided for determining an increased likelihood of the occurrence of a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient. The methods and systems comprise monitoring the sympathetic neural discharges of a patient from the left stellate ganglion, the thoracic ganglia, or both, and detecting increases in the sympathetic neural discharges. The methods and systems may further comprise delivering anti-arrhythmic therapy to the patient in response to a detected increase in the sympathetic neural discharge, such as delivering one or more pharmacological agents; stimulating myocardial hyperinnervation in the sinus node and right ventricle of the heart of the patient; and applying cardiac pacing, cardioversion or defibrillation shocks. Pharmacologic agents which may be used in connection with the delivery of anti-arrhythmic therapy include those which are known to exert anti-arrhythmic effect and anti-convulsant agents, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate, and phenobarbitone.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE PREDICTION OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS