Comparing PA Compliance During and After Decompensation in HFP

Comparison of Noninvasive Pulmonary Artery Compliance During and After Decompensation in Heart Failure Patients

Pulmonary Artery Compliance measurements will be obtained with the Respirix device in patients with congestive heart failure decompensation. Echocardiogram, weight measurements, and BNP will also be gathered as independent measures of decompensation in the clinic. Pulmonary Artery Compliance measurements will be made daily during the hospital stay. Patients can continue using the device at home for the next 3 weeks. Each patient will serve as their own control and relative changes from their baseline will be recorded for each parameter.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient must ≥ 18 years of age
2. Patient has been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, class II-IV
3. Patient is currently being admitted for decompensation related to Congestive Heart Failure
4. Subject or subject's legally authorized representative is able to give informed consent before entering the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
2. Clinical signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection
3. Unable to obtain a high-quality signal, as determined by variability of nPAC values throughout a single breath, within 48 hours of enrollment
4. Inability to withstand a 10 second end-inspiratory pause, in the opinion of the investigator
5. Deemed unsuitable for enrollment in study by the investigator based on subjects' history or physical examination