Developing a New, Dynamic, Therapeutic Pacemaker Algorithm for Stabilising Periodic Breathing in Chronic Heart Failure.

Periodic Breathing Clinical Trial

Official title: Developing a New, Dynamic, Therapeutic Pacemaker Algorithm for Stabilising Periodic Breathing in Chronic Heart Failure.

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

To evaluate whether cardiac output manipulation via a cardiac pacemaker can stabilise ventilation.

Clinical Trial Description

Many patients with heart failure exhibit a distinctive abnormal cyclical breathing pattern, 'periodic breathing'. This means that patients have a worse prognosis and they have debilitating symptoms including breathlessness, fatigue and disrupted sleep. Many of these patients also have cardiac pacemakers fitted, to improve their heart function. We have discovered a new physiological mechanism linking the heart and lungs, and have shown that by changing the programmed settings of a cardiac pacemakers, we can change a patient's breathing. If we increase the programmed pacing heart rate, we increase the rate of delivery of carbon dioxide to the lungs temporarily, which increases ventilation. When we reduce the programmed pacing heart rate, the converse happens. We aim to demonstrate this phenomenon scientifically, and to use this information to stabilise periodic breathing in heart failure patients using pacemakers. We then plan to continue to investigate whether we can show that sleep quality is improved in heart failure patients with periodic breathing, by our pacing protocol. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject), Primary Purpose: Basic Science

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Periodic Breathing
• Respiratory Aspiration

• NCT number: NCT01044407
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Imperial College London
• Contact: Darrel P Francis, MD
• Phone: +44 2075941264
• Email: d.francis@cheerful.com
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: January 2010
• Completion date: October 2010