Clinical Research Directory

POcus INTERvention for Tailoring Diuretic Strategy in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a frequent cause of hospitalization and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Congestion is the primary pathophysiological mechanism leading to clinical deterioration and hospitalization in ADHF. Diuretics remain the cornerstone of treatment for most ADHF phenotypes; however, evidence regarding optimal strategies to guide diuretic therapy during the decongestion process is limited. Recently, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a promising tool to support clinical assessment in ADHF, improving diagnostic accuracy, prognostication, and pre-discharge evaluation. Nevertheless, the role of POCUS in guiding therapeutic management in ADHF remains uncertain. To specifically assess congestion in patients with ADHF, a pragmatic POCUS-based score, the Dynamic Ultrasound Congestion Score (DUCS), was developed. DUCS integrates lung ultrasound and Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) to dynamically evaluate congestion severity, treatment response, and therapeutic goals during ADHF management. Observational data suggest that DUCS is associated with in-hospital outcomes and short-term prognosis, and correlates with markers of decongestion such as urinary output and weight loss. This study is a randomized, single-center, single-blind clinical trial designed to evaluate whether a DUCS-guided POCUS strategy improves clinical and decongestion outcomes compared with standard of care. Eligible patients hospitalized due to ADHF will be randomized within 48 hours of admission to one of two groups: (1) diuretic treatment guided by institutional standard-of-care combined with information from the EVEREST congestion score assessment and guideline-based treatment recommendations; or (2) diuretic treatment guided by serial DUCS-based POCUS assessments used to inform diuretic adjustment recommendations. Participants in both groups will undergo evaluations at baseline (day 1), day 2, day 3 and day 5, including clinical data collection, physical examination using the EVEREST congestion score, and standardized DUCS-based POCUS assessments. Outcomes to be assessed include in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, decongestion parameters, and changes in biomarkers.

Evaluation of Recruitment Effectiveness in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Using Lung Ultrasound

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are at higher risk for respiratory complications after surgery. Oxygen depletion and respiratory distress are common in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In this study, the effectiveness of the recruitment maneuver applied in the postoperative period will be investigated via lung ultrasound. Recruitment is a technique performed to improve the oxygen levels of patients. Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome between the ages of 18-65 will be included in the study and anesthesia and surgical procedures will be followed. The aim of the study is to compare the pulmonary complication rates between patients who underwent recruitment and those who did not, and to examine the effects of factors such as age and gender on these complications via lung ultrasound.

The Role of Lung Ultrasonography Score in Predicting Prognosis in Term and Late Preterm Newborns With Postnatal Respiratory Distress

Respiratory distress in term and late preterm infants in the first hour after birth is a prevalent condition. This situation may occur due to different reasons such as minimal respiratory stress, transient tachypnea of newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, and congenital pneumonia. It can be not easy to distinguish this in the first hours. This study aimed to investigate the place of the lung ultrasonography score in the prognosis of these patients.