Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Heart Failure

(POCUSHF Trial)

Overseen By FIU TEAM F

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Florida International University

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Terminal illness, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: Up to 30 days

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if bedside ultrasound, a safe and painless imaging tool, can improve care for patients hospitalized with heart failure. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will receive care guided by ultrasound, while the other will receive standard care without it. Researchers seek to discover if ultrasound can help patients leave the hospital sooner. Suitable candidates include those hospitalized with heart failure and showing signs of fluid buildup, such as swelling or difficulty breathing. As an unphased trial, this study offers patients the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance heart failure care.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study team or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that Point-of-Care Ultrasound is safe for heart failure patients?

Research shows that Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a safe tool for medical check-ups. In past studies, POCUS helped doctors diagnose issues like shortness of breath and chest pain more quickly and accurately. This imaging method is non-invasive, requiring no cuts or instruments inside the body, and it is painless, making it easy for patients to handle.

No major reports of harm or negative effects have been linked to POCUS. This suggests that using ultrasound in these ways is safe for patients. For those considering joining a trial that uses POCUS, the evidence indicates it is a safe option to consider. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for heart failure management because it offers a real-time, bedside evaluation method that can guide treatment decisions more precisely. Unlike the standard clinical evaluations that rely on physical exams, chest X-rays, and lab results, POCUS provides direct imaging of the lungs and inferior vena cava, allowing for immediate assessment of fluid status. This method could potentially lead to more tailored and efficient fluid management, reducing the risk of complications and improving patient outcomes during hospitalization.

What evidence suggests that Point-of-Care Ultrasound is effective for heart failure?

Research has shown that Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) can improve outcomes for patients with heart problems. Studies have found that POCUS speeds up and simplifies the diagnosis of issues, particularly in cases of shortness of breath and heart conditions. In this trial, participants in the POCUS-Guided Evaluation Group will receive ultrasound evaluations of the lungs and inferior vena cava to guide fluid management decisions. Evidence suggests that POCUS can lead to better fluid management decisions, potentially shortening hospital stays and enhancing care. Overall, POCUS is a safe and non-invasive tool that could improve results for heart failure patients. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

GUILLERMO IZQUIERDO PRETEL, MD

Principal Investigator

Florida International University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure. It's designed to see if using bedside ultrasound can improve their care and reduce the time they spend in the hospital.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to undergo bedside ultrasound evaluation (POCUS) as clinically feasible

I show signs of fluid buildup in my body or lungs.

Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

I am under 18 years old.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women

Terminal illness with life expectancy < 30 days

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Treatment

Participants receive either POCUS-guided evaluations or standard clinical evaluations during hospitalization

Up to 30 days

2 visits (in-person) for POCUS group

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for 30-day readmission rates after discharge

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Trial Overview The study compares two groups: one receiving ultrasound-guided assessments (POCUS) and another getting standard clinical evaluations, to determine if POCUS leads to shorter hospital stays for heart failure patients.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: POCUS-Guided Evaluation Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive bedside Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) evaluations of the lungs and inferior vena cava (IVC) twice during hospitalization, once within 24 hours of admission and once prior to discharge. Ultrasound findings will be used to guide fluid management decisions.

Group II: Standard Clinical Evaluation Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive standard clinical care without bedside ultrasound guidance. Clinical evaluation and management will be based on physical examination, chest X-rays, laboratory results, and physician judgment.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Florida International University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

114

Recruited

19,400+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10805123/

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Frequent ... Studies show that POCUS improves diagnostic speed, accuracy, and patient outcomes in scenarios like dyspnea, chest pain, and cardiac arrest. In ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0914508725001650

The role of POCUS in diagnosing acute heart failure ... Our findings demonstrate that combining lung and cardiac POCUS results in a diagnostic protocol with excellent performance characteristics, ...

3. annemergmed.com annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(24)00916-8/fulltext

471 Retrospective Analysis on the Current Use of Bedside ... The most common combination of POCUS studies was cardiac and lung ultrasound, performed in 30.37% (95% CI [26.28%,34.47%]) of cases. Cardiac, lung and inferior ...

4. butterflynetwork.com butterflynetwork.com/rutgers-case-study?srsltid=AfmBOoqbPRJNndTVkFYszpGGziEPmkQjfwr7nPg43FdgBVTxU5kBwIFO

POCUS-CARE Case Study Shows 50% Cost Reduction ... POCUS group 17% versus 23% for usual care. These findings suggest that POCUS not only improves patient outcomes but also creates measurable ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06965712

NCT06965712 | Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) ... The POCUS findings will be used to guide clinical management decisions regarding fluid status and decongestion therapy in patients with decompensated heart ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06887179?cond=Congestive%20Heart%20Failure&term=focused%20ultrasound&aggFilters=status:not%20rec&rank=5

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Chronic Heart Failure This study aims to determine whether Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)-guided treatment is non-inferior to standard NT-proBNP-based care in ambulatory patients ...

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1627396/full

Point-of-care ultrasound in the evaluation of STEMI patients Moreover, a systematic POCUS assessment may facilitate early detection of high-risk patients with acute heart failure or cardiogenic shock, as ...

8. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2838514

Cardiopulmonary Point-of-Care Ultrasonography for ... The implementation of cardiopulmonary POCUS was associated with a 30.3% (95% CI, 5.5%-48.9%) reduction in expected LOS (mean [SD] LOS, 8.3 [5.2] ...

9. butterflynetwork.com butterflynetwork.com/rutgers-case-study?srsltid=AfmBOoqFaLbgr1MdxMXUrsY-0hsJGDRBocnfuXiW9t4_e1SVgpPaIQh0

POCUS-CARE Case Study Shows 50% Cost Reduction ... POCUS group 17% versus 23% for usual care. These findings suggest that POCUS not only improves patient outcomes but also creates measurable ...