Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) modalities offer an efficient, non-invasive approach to assess congestion in heart failure patients, potentially reducing readmissions and mortality.
How can point of care ultrasound (POCUS) modalities be used to assess for congestion in the heart failure population?
POCUS provides an efficient, non-invasive method for assessing clinical and subclinical congestion in heart failure patients, which may help reduce readmissions and mortality.
Assessing for volume overload is a key component of both short and long-term management of heart failure patients. Physical examination findings are neither sensitive nor specific for detecting congestion, and subclinical congestion may not be evident at the time of examination. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is an efficient and non-invasive way to assess heart failure patients for volume overload. The aim of our narrative review is to summarize how each of the following ultrasound modalities can be used to assess for congestion in the heart failure population: 2D and Doppler echocardiography, lung ultrasound, inferior vena cava ultrasound, internal jugular vein ultrasound, and venous excess grading. While each of these modalities has their limitations, their use in the acute and outpatient space offers the potential to reduce heart failure readmissions and mortality.
Naddaf et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Heart failure. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) was evaluated. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) modalities offer an efficient, non-invasive approach to assess congestion in heart failure patients, potentially reducing readmissions and mortality.