POCUS Technique Can Predict Mortality in Acute Heart Failure

Background: Volume assessment based on clinical signs is subjective and has low sensitivity for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Inferior vena cava (IVC) and lung point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) are useful but have limitations. The Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) score is a more comprehensive tool for quantifying systemic venous congestion, which can affect downstream organs such as the liver and kidneys. However, measuring Doppler flow in the renal veins is an impediment to its usage. Objective: To evaluate the association between a modified VExUS (mVExUS) score that excludes renal vein Doppler and in-hospital mortality among patients with ADHF. Design: Prospective observational study. Participants/Methods: 104 cardiac ICU (CICU) patients with ADHF and left ventricular ejection fraction Results: 28% of patients had mVExUS=3, while 22% had mVExUS=0. After 72 hours, only 8% had mVExUS=3 while 40% had mVExUS=0. In-hospital mortality was 26%. Patients with ΔmVExUS ≥1 more...