Abstract
Bioimpedance monitoring is a non-invasive technique that measures the electrical impedance changes in the thorax. It has been used in a variety of patient populations to assess selected hemodynamic parameters, such as cardiac output, stroke volume, systemic vascular resistance, and thoracic fluid content (measured as "Zo").
The ultimate goal of the proposed series of research studies is to determine if objective hemodynamic data provided by non-invasive thoracic bioimpedance monitoring can be used to enhance self-management and improve clinical and quality of life outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure. Before this technology can be further tested and implemented in clinical practice, its accuracy must be determined.
Therefore, the purpose of this preliminary study is to determine, in patients with severe chronic heart failure, whether hemodynamic measurements obtained from bioimpedance monitoring are equivalent to hemodynamic measurements obtained from a pulmonary artery catheter, the current gold standard. Results from this study will provide information about whether bioimpedance monitoring is a valid method of obtaining hemodynamic data in patients with chronic heart failure. If data are found to be equivalent to data obtained by an invasive pulmonary artery cathether, then bioimpedance monitoring could be used in the clinic or home settings to optimize heart failure management without the need for frequent invasive studies.
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Principal Investigator
Marjorie Funk
Co-Investigators
Karin Nyström
Stuart Katz
Forrester Lee
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