POCUS-Guided Diuresis for Decompensated Heart Failure

Summary

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood effectively, leading to fluid buildup in the body. This can cause problems such as difficulty breathing, swelling, and extreme tiredness. In severe cases, these symptoms worsen to the point where hospitalization is required. Unfortunately, many patients with severe heart failure are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after discharge, which is both physically and emotionally challenging for patients and places a significant financial burden on individuals and the healthcare system.

Although symptoms such as difficulty breathing and swelling may improve during the hospital stay, some patients are discharged with excess fluid remaining in their bodies. This retained fluid often causes symptoms to worsen, leading to subsequent hospital readmissions. Inadequate management of fluid levels can also harm the kidneys, further complicating the patient's condition.

This study aims to improve care for heart failure patients by utilizing a simple, non-invasive tool to assess fluid levels more accurately at the bedside. The tool measures the size of a large blood vessel in the neck, providing key information about the pressure inside the heart. This information enables clinicians to determine the appropriate amount of medication needed to remove just the right amount of fluid. Properly managing fluid levels can help prevent kidney damage and improve overall patient outcomes.

The primary goal of this study is to evaluate whether this tool can reduce the number of patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. A secondary goal is to determine whether the tool can help protect kidney function by allowing for better fluid management. If successful, this approach has the potential to help heart failure patients stay healthier, reduce hospital visits, and lower healthcare costs.

Conditions

• Heart Decompensation, Acute
• Acute Kidney Injuries

Interventions

OTHER

Furosemide (Standard Diuretic) Treatment

Participants in this group will receive intravenous furosemide as part of their routine care, based on clinical assessments including symptoms, physical examination. Daily POCUS imaging will be performed for research purposes; however, the findings will not be shared with the treating clinical team. Fluid management decisions and discharge planning will follow usual care protocols, without additional imaging-based guidance.

OTHER

POCUS-Assessed Diuretic Management

POCUS will be used to provide objective, non-invasive assessments of fluid status by measuring right internal jugular vein (RIJV) cross-sectional area (CSA) and calculating the Distensibility Index (DI). This information will be shared with the treating clinical team as an additional tool for fluid management. However, all final decisions regarding diuretic therapy will be made at the discretion of the treating physicians.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• American Heart Association

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Pittsburgh

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• John J Pacella, MD · University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-29

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2026-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations