Rapid bedside estimation of Inotropy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Bedside Inotropy – validation of a non-invasive technique to rapidly measure cardiac contractility
IRAS ID
126958
Contact name
Howard Wakeling
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
An important component in the assessment and treatment of unwell patients is recognition of how well the heart is pumping blood and what intervention (such as fluid replacement or drug delivery) is required to optimise this 'pump.' Basic observations such as blood pressure are poor predictors of heart function. In the past invasive devices have been employed to get a better idea of the status of the heart, but these are not without significant risk. Recently a non-invasive simple doppler ultrasound device (USCOM) has been introduced that may help clinical teams in hospital in a number of scenarios.
Inotropy or myocardial (heart) contractility though well known to many clinicians, is seldom thought of as being measureable. A recent study using USCOM with haemodynamic theory showed that inotropy may be relatively easily measured. The study compared healthy patients and patients with heart failure and found significant differences in the measures attained. If such a technique is shown to be reliable and repeatable it may be of use in a wide range of clinical conditions, and could be performed by non-experts in a timely manner.
We plan to perform a study looking at differences in inotropy between a range of patient groups - fit and healthy patients due to undergo elective surgery, patients with known heart failure or liver cirrhosis, patients with suspected sepsis (severe infection) with and without acute kidney injury (AKI), fit and well pregnant patients in their 3rd trimester (>27 weeks) and pregnant patients >27 weeks with confirmed pre-eclampsia (a medical condition that can seriously affect pregnant women and causes high blood pressure and changes to the circulation).
It will take only a few minutes to perform the reading and the non-invasive nature of the device means that the risk of harm to anyone is minimal.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
15/WA/0189
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion