A Comparison of Echocardiography-Derived and Invasive Hemodynamics in pre-heart transplant patients
Study Description
All patients who undergo heart transplantation or LVAD placement require further testing to determine the eligibility and feasibility of performing the heart transplant and/or LVAD. This testing involves careful measurements of the pressures and function of the heart. There are two ways to evaluate these parameters. The first (the invasive approach) is a direct measurement by placing a small plastic tube (catheter) into the chambers of the right side of your heart, and the blood vessels of the lungs (Right Heart Catheterization-RHC). The second (a noninvasive approach) measures these items indirectly using ultrasound from your chest wall (Echocardiography). Current standard of care is to perform both tests as it is felt that the information is so important that information from both tests are needed to make the final decision regarding your heart transplant and/or LVAD implantation. While the non-invasive approach poses no significant risk to you, the invasive test poses a low but potentially dangerous risk including pneumothorax (air leak into space outside your lung), bleeding, infection and very rarely death (< 1%).
Our study is designed to compare the non-invasive measurement (Echocardiogram) to the invasive measurement (RHC) of heart pressure parameters to see if non-invasive is as accurate and reliable as the invasive measurement. Because both tests are currently used for patients before receiving a transplant or LVAD, there are no additional risks from this study other than the usual risk of the RHC procedure which is the standard of care at this time.
Contact Information
Status:
Name, Phone, Email:
Renee Neuharth, BS
801-587-4877
Renee.Neuharth@hsc.utah.edu
Principle Investigator:
Feras Bader, M.D.
Please Note:
Study Coordinators and Research Nurses cannot give medical advice over the phone. Telephone numbers are provided for obtaining additional information on specific clinical research trials only. If you have specific questions which require clinical expertise, please call your primary care physician. If you do not have a primary care physician, we can help you find a University of Utah doctor or clinic location to meet your health care needs.
Although the studies described on this Web site may have potential benefits as described, the University of Utah and its physicians and affiliated hospitals cannot and do not guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from participating in a study.
Participant Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:Patient > 18 years old being evaluated for heart transplant and/or LVAD referred for invasive hemodynamic measurement by means of right heart catheterization and by echocardiography.
Exclusion Criteria:- Patient declines to be included in the study
- Pregnant patients
- Patients that cannot tolerate right heart catheterization
- Suboptimal results of 2D/doppler echocardiography study
