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Boston Medical Center Ultrasound Study for Heart Failure

This study at Boston Medical Center is looking at whether using a special five-point ultrasound can help doctors better manage fluid buildup (volume overload) in patients with heart failure. Currently, doctors rely on lab tests and physical exams, which can sometimes be unclear. This study will compare the standard way of treating fluid buildup with a method that uses ultrasound to guide treatment. The goal is to see if using ultrasound helps reduce how often patients with heart failure need to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 or 90 days after discharge. You might be able to join if you are an adult with a primary diagnosis of acute on chronic decompensated heart failure and are receiving treatment at Boston Medical Center. The study status is currently unclear.

Study design
This is a randomized clinical trial comparing two treatment approaches, with 200 participants planned. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive standard care or care guided by the five-point ultrasound.
What's involved
You would have in-person study visits for the five-point ultrasound on initial evaluation and then at least every 48 hours. These visits will involve short abdominal and thoracic ultrasounds.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study will track hospital readmission rates for 30 days and 90 days after your discharge from the hospital.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07096726

Boston Medical Center Ultrasound Decongestion Study in Heart Failure

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
Boston Medical Center
~200 participants
Updated 2026-06-30 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Five-point ultrasoundStandard of care

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
VExUS Doppler profiles and scores
Measured over At admission, At discharge (on average 3-10 days)
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Congestive Heart Failure
Volume Overload

Explore related trials

Heart FailureHeart failure with normal ejection fractionHeart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1

Study leadership

  • Deepa M Gopal, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Boston Medical Center, Cardiovascular Medicine/Heart Failure
  • Aala Jaberi, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Boston Medical Center, Nephrology Section

Who to contact

Deepa M Gopal, MD
[email protected]
617 638 8717
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Patient with a primary diagnosis of acute on chronic decompensated heart failure who is admitted to inpatient or presents to the outpatient Boston Medical Center (BMC) Heart Failure Infusion clinic for decongestion treatment.
Willing and able to receive short abdominal and thoracic ultrasounds throughout hospitalization
Patients with right and/or left ventricular failure

Exclusion

Hemodynamic instability defined as systolic blood pressure \<85 mmHg or mean arterial pressure \<60 mm Hg for greater than 24 hours duration
Abdominal surgery in the past 1 month
Significant acute or chronic liver disease
End stage renal disease on dialysis
Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) \[Stage V CKD with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \<15\] to exclude renal vein doppler ultrasound
Severe acute kidney injury (AKI) or requiring renal replacement therapy
Known abdominal thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) or portal vein
Acute myocarditis
Acute valvular disease
Acute type 1 myocardial infarction
Medical condition precluding abdominal ultrasound due to significant discomfort or pain
Adults not able to provide consent (a simple teach back method of key aspects discussed in consent form will be utilized to verify if patient is able to adequately provide informed consent)

What this trial measures

  • VExUS Doppler profiles and scoresAt admission, At discharge (on average 3-10 days)

    The range of VExUS profiles and scores to guide clinicians with heart failure diuresis are: No congestion (normal inferior vena cava), Minimal congestion (0 or 1 abnormal doppler patterns). Mild congestion (2 abnormal patterns and portal vein pulsatility fraction \[PVPF\] less than 30%), Moderate congestion (2 abnormal patterns and PVPF between 30 and 50%), Severe congestion (2 abnormal patterns and PVPF more than 50%).

  • 30-day hospital readmission rate30 days after discharge (on average 3-10 days)

    The number of any hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge will be abstracted from the participants' electronic medical records.

  • 90-day hospital readmission rate90 days after discharge (on average 3-10 days)

    The number of any hospital readmissions within 90 days of discharge will be abstracted from the participants' electronic medical records.

  • Worsening renal failure/acute renal injuryadmission to 4 weeks post discharge (on average 3-10 days)

    This outcome is defined by an increase in 25% of serum creatinine or serum cystatin C from the time of admission to 4 weeks post discharge. It will be abstracted from the participants' electronic medical records.