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

NCT06965712 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 25-0179
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Heart Failure; Decompensated Heart Failure; Hospital Length of Stay

Keywords

Heart Failure; Decompensated Heart Failure; Point-of-Care Ultrasound; POCUS; Hospital Length of Stay; Ultrasound-Guided Therapy; Lung Ultrasound; Inferior Vena Cava Ultrasound; Volume Status Assessment; Readmission Prevention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Hospital Length of Stay (LOS)

  Hospital Length of Stay (LOS) will be measured as the number of days from hospital admission to discharge decision. LOS will be compared between the POCUS-guided group and the standard care group.

  From the date of hospital admission to the date of discharge order, assessed up to 30 days.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• 30-Day Hospital Readmission Rate

  Within 30 days after hospital discharge

Study Arms (2)

POCUS-Guided Evaluation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Device: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Standard Clinical Evaluation Group

NO 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.

Interventions

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) 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.

POCUS-Guided Evaluation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Florida International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Jackson Memorial Hospital

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Heart Failure

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Officials

• GUILLERMO IZQUIERDO PRETEL, MD

  Florida International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

GUILLERMO IZQUIERDO PRETEL, MD

CONTACT

13058128099; gizquier@fiu.edu

FIU TEAM F

CONTACT

3055101801; sacramento1624@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either a Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)-guided evaluation group or a standard clinical evaluation group. Participants in each group will remain in their assigned arm throughout the duration of their hospital stay. The study is designed as a parallel assignment model without crossover between groups.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2025
• First Posted: May 11, 2025
• Study Start: November 24, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)