Current Environment:

Summary

The purpose of the proposed study is to determine the safety of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), a system for compressing the blood vessels in the legs in synchrony with an individual's cardiac rhythm, in clinically well, adult Fontan patients, to document the acute hemodynamic and myocardial effects of EECP on the Fontan circulation, and to demonstrate acute changes in endothelial function after one hour of the procedure.

Conditions

Single-ventricle, Congenital Heart Disease

Recruitment Status

Completed

Detailed Description

The investigators plan to study the effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), on patients who have had Fontan surgery for treatment of complex congenital heart disease. Eligible patient volunteers will undergo a series of biophysical measurements at rest including echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function, pulmonary blood flow/cardiac output measurement using an inert gas rebreathing method (Innocor), and measurements of biomarkers of endothelial function (ET-1, NOx). Patients will then undergo 1 hour of treatment with EECP, during which additional echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function and pulmonary blood flow/cardiac output measurements will be performed at multiple levels of leg compression. Subjects will be assessed periodically for adverse effects and discomfort during the EECP treatment. At the completion of treatment, patients will be allowed 30 minutes to rest before undergoing one more echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function, pulmonary blood flow/cardiac output measurement, and measurements of biomarkers of endothelial function (ET-1, NOx). Measurements made during and after treatment will be compared to baseline measurements.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Individuals with Fontan physiology being seen in the Boston Children's Hospital cardiology clinic for outpatient care.

Exclusion Criteria:

Current pregnancy
Decompensated heart failure/pulmonary edema
Severe aortic insufficiency
Active tachyarrhythmias
Frequent atrial or ventricular ectopy
Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
Thrombophlebitis or history of deep vein thrombosis or stasis ulcer
Aortic aneurysm
Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure >180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure>110 mmHg)
Systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg
Active femoral site bleeding or hematoma

Intervention

Intervention Type

Intervention Name

Device

EECP

Phase

Not Applicable

Gender

All

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

N/A

Download Date

June 13, 2023

Principal Investigator

This field has been modified from ClinicalTrials.gov to show a contact specific to Boston Children's.

Primary Contact Information

Erica Denhoff, MPH
erica.denhoff@childrens.harvard.edu
617-355-7893

This field has been modified from ClinicalTrials.gov to show a contact specific to Boston Children's.

For more information on this trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov.

Contact

For more information and to contact the study team:

Enhanced External Counterpulsation in Patients With Fontan Circulation NCT04956952 Erica Denhoff, MPH erica.denhoff@childrens.harvard.edu 617-355-7893