Interventional Cardiology Research
Dr. Michaels is actively involved in several clinical research studies. He has received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the changes in cardiac function and heart sounds during heart failure treatment. His studies have focused on single-center, investigator-initiated clinical studies of coronary and myocardial hemodynamics. The University of Utah Adult Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory supports the mission for clinical investigation, in addition to fellow teaching and providing state-of-the-art clinical care. The following summarizes the scope of the clinical trials that are ongoing in the adult cath lab:
1. Myocardial hemodynamic effects of levosimendan. Levosimendan is a novel inotropic/vasodilatory intravenous agent under investigation for patients with decompensated heart failure. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer in phase III clinical trials in the US, and is approved for clinical use in Europe. We are studying the effects of an IV bolus of levosimendan on changes on myocardial energetics using right and left venricular pressure-volume catheter measurements in patients with systolic or diastolic heart failure. We also are measuring changes in right heart hemodynamics, phonocardiography, and heart function using echocardiography. Learn more...
2. Myocardial hemodynamic effects of nesiritide. Nesiritide is an intravenous agent used for patients with decompensated heart failure. Nesiritide, or human BNP, is a potent vasodilator. We are studying the effects of an IV bolus of nesiritide on changes on myocardial energetics using right and left venricular pressure-volume catheter measurements in patients with systolic or diastolic heart failure. We also are measuring changes in right heart hemodynamics, phonocardiography, and heart function using echocardiography. Learn more...
3. Third Heart Sound and Myocardial Function Study. 100 patients referred for cardiac catheterization had a series of diagnostic studies to determine the correlates between cardiac function, BNP, and ausculatory findings of heart failure. Patients had left ventricular pressure measurements, a transthoracic echocardiogram, ANP and BNP levels, phonocardiography, and blinded auscultation by four physicians for a third and/or fourth heart sound. Substudies include the hemodynamic and echocardiographic associations with S3 and S4, association of CRP and hemodynamics, and the influence of obesity on BNP/heart failure associations.
4. Phonocardiography during PCI. Older studies demonstrated that during angioplasty balloon inflation (lasting 2-3 minutes) interruption of coronary blood flow produced a fourth heart sound. This study will determine the phonocardiographic effects during balloon angioplasty and stenting, which typically involves 30-second balloon inflations.
5. Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure and Stroke. PFO is associated with cryptogenic stroke. We are participating in the PFO ACCESS Registry to follow patients with cryptogenic stroke who undergo PFO closure with the Amplatzer PFO Occluder device. Learn more...
Learn about other Clinical Research being conducted in Cardiology.
