Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) to Reduce Hospital Length of Stay in Patients With Heart Failure ( POCUSHF )

NCT ID: NCT06965712

Last Updated: 2026-01-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 66 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-11-24
• Study Completion Date: 2026-06-30

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate whether using bedside ultrasound (also called Point-of-Care Ultrasound or POCUS) can help improve the care of hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure. Patients will be randomly assigned to two groups: one group will receive ultrasound-guided assessments, and the other group will receive standard clinical evaluations. Researchers will compare the hospital length of stay between the two groups. Ultrasound is a non-invasive, safe, and painless imaging tool. The goal of the study is to find out if ultrasound guidance can lead to shorter hospitalizations and better care for patients with heart failure.

Detailed Description

This clinical trial aims to determine whether the use of bedside ultrasound (also called Point-of-Care Ultrasound, or POCUS) can improve the management of patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure. Traditional methods for assessing heart failure patients rely heavily on physical examination and imaging tests such as chest X-rays, which may not always accurately reflect a patient's volume status. POCUS provides real-time information at the bedside, allowing clinicians to assess lung congestion and venous volume status quickly and non-invasively.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will undergo POCUS assessments of the lungs and inferior vena cava (IVC) twice during their hospitalization: once within 24 hours of admission and once before discharge. The control group will receive standard clinical care without ultrasound guidance. All participants' clinical information, including length of hospital stay, treatments administered, and 30-day readmission status, will be collected and analyzed.

The primary objective is to determine whether POCUS-guided management leads to a reduction in hospital length of stay. Secondary objectives include evaluating whether ultrasound guidance affects 30-day readmission rates and diuretic therapy adjustments. The study is expected to enroll approximately 66 patients.

This research may help establish whether POCUS can be incorporated into standard care practices for hospitalized heart failure patients, potentially leading to better outcomes and more efficient use of hospital resources.

Conditions

Heart Failure; Decompensated Heart Failure; Hospital Length of Stay

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

POCUS-Guided Evaluation Group

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 Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Participants assigned to this group will receive Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) evaluations of the lungs and inferior vena cava (IVC) during their hospital stay. The ultrasound will be performed twice: once within 24 hours of hospital admission and once prior to hospital discharge. The POCUS findings will be used to guide clinical management decisions regarding fluid status and decongestion therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure. The procedure is non-invasive, radiation-free, and performed at the bedside.

Standard Clinical Evaluation Group

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.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Participants assigned to this group will receive Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) evaluations of the lungs and inferior vena cava (IVC) during their hospital stay. The ultrasound will be performed twice: once within 24 hours of hospital admission and once prior to hospital discharge. The POCUS findings will be used to guide clinical management decisions regarding fluid status and decongestion therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure. The procedure is non-invasive, radiation-free, and performed at the bedside.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Adults aged 18 years and older.

Hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of decompensated heart failure (left, right, or biventricular).

Evidence of volume overload or congestion based on Framingham criteria, clinical examination, elevated proBNP (>1000 pg/mL), or chest X-ray showing pulmonary edema.

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

Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

Age under 18 years.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Terminal illness with life expectancy < 30 days.

Inability to obtain ultrasound images due to body habitus or other technical reasons.

Enrollment in another interventional clinical trial that could interfere with the outcomes of this study.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Florida International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

GUILLERMO IZQUIERDO PRETEL, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Florida International University

Locations

Jackson Memorial Hospital

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

GUILLERMO IZQUIERDO PRETEL, MD

Role: CONTACT

gizquier@fiu.edu

13058128099

FIU TEAM F

Role: CONTACT

sacramento1624@gmail.com

3055101801

Facility Contacts

GUILLERMO IZQUIERDO-PRETEL, MD

Role: primary

gizquier@fiu.edu

305-812-8099

Other Identifiers

25-0179

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id