Ultrasound-guided therapy is safe in a group of patients with significant comorbidities.
After five years of research, the members of the Working Group on Heart failure y Auricular fibrillation from Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI) publish the results of a clinical trial linked to pulmonary congestion. The accumulation of blood in the pulmonary vessels is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death in patients con heart failureand the results of Spanish clinical trial randomized and multicenter study show that therapy guided by lung ultrasound does not get better the results of 6 months in patients compared to standard care. Despite this, the conclusions of the study do open the door to adjust new treatments to prevent hospitalizations linked to heart failure, in addition to demonstrating that the lung ultrasound allows detection of pulmonary congestion.
The Epic study (Lung Ultrasound in Acute Chronic Heart Failure) analyzed 79 patients who were randomized into two groups, 37 of whom received a standard of care therapy (SOC) and 42 underwent pleural effusion and B-line detection with lung ultrasound (LUS). At 180 days, there were no clinically or statistically significant differences in the combined endpoint, while the survival analysis did not show significant differences.
The most important findings of the investigation lie in the enrollment in a clinical trial of patients with heart failure of the real world of lung ultrasound admitted to Internal Medicine. Despite the limitations in relation to the sample size of the study, relevant findings have been achieved from the clinical point of view in relation to the therapeutic implementation from lung ultrasound in the diuretic treatment guided in this patient profile.
Furthermore, the researchers note that all patients were included in a multidisciplinary program heart failure care in Spain (UMIPIC). This clinical program has been shown to have a significant impact on the prevention of admissions and mortality in the profile of patients included in the EPICC study.
The study opens the door to prevent hospitalizations for heart failure
Another aspect highlighted by the researchers of the study published in the scientific journal MDPI is that, for Future investigationsearly effort to avoid fluid retention and timely medical treatment adjustment therapy can prevent las hospitalizations related to the heart failure.
The main conclusion of the study carried out by the SEMI is that the diuretic treatment guided by LUS in patients with a recent hospital admission due to acute heart failure decompensated did not show no improvement in survivalhospital readmission, emergency room visits, or need for intravenous diuretic on SOC.
Although it may contain statements, data or notes from health institutions or professionals, the information contained in Medical Writing is edited and prepared by journalists. We recommend the reader that any questions related to health be consulted with a health professional.