Mechanisms of Altered Ventilatory Control in Heart Failure
Condition: Heart Failure
MeSH terms: Heart Failure
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study is being done because the investigators are trying to understand how feedback from
      the muscles can influence your blood pressure and breathing during exercise, and if the
      investigators can reduce this response in heart failure patients. The investigators are also
      trying to determine ways to improve tolerance to exercise in heart failure patients.
    

Detailed description: 
      If you are enrolled in this study the investigators will ask you to make 3 separate study
      visits.

      During study visit 1 you will be asked to get a blood draw, DEXA bone scan, perform pulmonary
      function tests, and exercise on a stationary bike at maximal exertion while breathing into a
      mouth piece.

      During study visits 2 and 3 you will be asked to again exercise at maximal exertion while
      breathing into a mouth piece. However, during these two visits you will be receiving an
      intrathecal injection of fentanyl one day and placebo the other day, randomly selected and
      you will be blinded as to which you are receiving. A catheter will also be placed in an
      artery in your arm and a vein in your leg, which will help us to measure blood flow, blood
      pressure and draw blood when need be. The investigators will also ask you to perform a brief
      chemosensitivity test, breathing in and out your own air, after you are done exercising.
    

Intervention name(s): Fentanyl; Catheters; Exercise; DEXA; Pulmonary Function Tests; Blood Draw; Chemosensitivity Test; Placebo
Intervention type(s): Drug; Procedure; Other; Radiation; Other; Other; Other; Drug
Intervention description(s): During study visits 2 and 3 you will receive an intrathecal (fluid filled space surrounding the spinal cord) injection of either fentanyl or placebo (saline). Fentanyl is an opiate (narcotic) drug and a common medication, however the way fentanyl is being used in this study is considered investigational.; A catheter (small plastic tube placed in a blood vessel) will be placed in an artery in your arm and a second catheter will be placed in a vein in your leg. Local anesthetic will be used to minimize discomfort. These catheters will allow us to measure blood pressure, leg blood flow and draw blood.; You will be asked to exercise, ride a stationary bike, at maximal exertion.; During study visit one you will have a DEXA scan. This procedure requires you to lie on a table while a small x-ray tube passes under your body.; During study visit one you will be asked to perform 5 different breathing tests to help us better understand your lung function.; You will have approximately 350 mls (1.25 cups) of blood drawn during the duration of this study.; Using a bag you breath in and out your own air.
Other intervention name(s): Analgesic, Opioid
Intervention MeSH terms: Fentanyl; Analgesics, Opioid; Analgesics
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: Heart, Cardiovascular; Pulmonary; Skeletal Muscle; Exercise