Boston Medical Center Ultrasound Decongestion Study in Heart Failure

Launched by BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER · Jul 24, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study at Boston Medical Center is looking at a new way to help manage fluid buildup in people with heart failure, a condition where the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. The researchers want to see if using a special ultrasound test at five different points on the body can better predict when someone has too much fluid, compared to the usual methods like blood tests and physical exams. They hope that using this ultrasound can help guide treatment to remove excess fluid more effectively and reduce the chances of the heart failure getting worse again.

People who might join this study are adults aged 65 to 74 who have been admitted to the hospital or are visiting the heart failure clinic at Boston Medical Center because their heart failure has worsened and they have extra fluid in their body. Participants will need to agree to have several quick, painless ultrasounds done on their abdomen and chest during their hospital stay. However, people with very low blood pressure, recent abdominal surgery, severe liver or kidney problems, or certain other serious health issues may not be eligible. The study is not yet recruiting, but if you or a loved one fits these criteria and are interested, this trial could offer a new way to improve heart failure care.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 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 Criteria:
• • 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)