The study aims to assess hemodynamic effects of non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation during invasive hemodynamics evaluation in patients with heart failure and transient or persistent hypotension undergoing catheterization before inclusion into the heart transplantation program. Eligible patients will sign an informed consent form before the procedure. Non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord will be applied using high-frequency modulated electrical impulses through adhesive electrodes attached to the back skin. The stimulation protocol includes analysis of the following parameters: heart rate; electrocardiogram in 12 leads; invasive blood pressure; pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac input, cardiac index, stroke volume, stroke volume index, systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance.
This is a prospective single-center study that aims to evaluate the effects of non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation on systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics, assessed during right heart catheterization in patients with heart failure and persistent or transient hypotension subjected to be included into the heart transplantation waiting list.