Using Electrical Impedance Tomography to Measure Pulmonary Artery Pressure Compared to Right Heart Catheterization in Adults with Suspected Pulmonary Hypertension

What this Trial Is About

Pulmonary hypertension is a serious and progressive condition that is challenging to diagnose early due to its nonspecific symptoms. This study investigates whether electrical impedance tomography EIT, a non-invasive and radiation-free bedside monitoring method, can provide useful information that correlates with invasive right heart catheterization RHC results in patients suspected of having pulmonary arterial hypertension PAH. The goal is to assess EIT as a potential screening tool before catheterization and to aid in patient risk stratification. Adult patients referred for RHC due to suspected or confirmed PAH will undergo standard invasive hemodynamic assessment, including measurements of pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, and vascular resistance. Alongside, they will receive short-term EIT monitoring, with some patients also receiving a hypertonic saline injection during a respiratory pause to enhance perfusion signals. The EIT data will be analyzed offline to separate ventilation and perfusion signals and to extract pulsatility-related parameters, which will then be compared with RHC measurements. Participants will be monitored during the catheterization procedure and EIT session, with data collected to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of EIT for detecting pulmonary hypertension. Researchers will measure the sensitivity of EIT-derived pulsatility amplitude and its correlation with invasive hemodynamic parameters. The study includes safety monitoring, with minimal risks from EIT and inherent risks from RHC. The research aims to provide insights into using EIT as a less invasive diagnostic approach for PAH, improving clinical practice and patient care.

Electrical Impedance Tomography for Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension