Measuring Heart & Lung Function in Critical Care: A feasibility study to assess the use of a novel device to monitor cardiorespiratory function in mechanically ventilated patients in critical care

Research summary

This is a feasibility study of the use of a novel technique called ‘InspiWave’ (Inspired Sinewave Technique) to measure heart and lung function in adult patients in critical care. The preliminary work was funded by the EPSRC for early engineering development and the NIHR for clinical translation. The Farmery Group has been developing this technology and has undertaken successful tests in animal models and in well participants. The ultimate aim of the wider project is to develop a clinical tool for measuring (and therefore being able to make treatment changes to) heart and lung function in critical care. This study is the first assessment of the technique in critical care patients and whilst we know that it works in patients undergoing general anaesthesia, we now need to assess whether InspiWave can be used at all in critical care patients who may have much more physiologically derangement. The purpose of this phase is to determine whether it is feasible to use InspiWave in critical care patients. InspiWave generates and measures an inspired and expired tracer gas signal. That signal and the difference between what is put in and what is measured coming out can be used to derive some key variables relating to cardiopulmonary function which are clinically important in sick patients; namely the lung volume, the pulmonary deadspace (degree of 'wasted ventilation') and the pulmonary blood flow. These are 'vital signs' in sick patients requiring critical care, but they are technically difficult to measure, particularly non-invasively.

Principal Investigator

Prof Andrew Farmery

Contact us

Email: marni.moran@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

212665