FACE-HF: Focused Assessment by Chest Sonography and Echocardiography in Acute Heart Failure Patients

Abstract

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening condition that necessitates urgent evaluation and treatment with an urgent need for hospital admission. Among the available imaging modalities, echocardiography is the method of choice due to its feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Lung ultrasonography in emergency department, critical and cardiac care units is becoming popular. The present study aimed to assess the value of the focused echocardiography and lung ultrasound protocol for guiding treatment and its effect on the hospitalization period in AHF patients admitted to the CCU, 6 months re-hospitalization and mortality. Methods: This study included 40 consecutive patients admitted to the Cardiology and Angiology department after disposition from the emergency department at Alexandria main university hospital in Egypt with the diagnosis of (AHF). Patients were divided into 2 groups, 20 patients received the standard treatment while the other group received a modification of medication doses according to daily imaging changes. All patients were followed up for 6 months to assess the 6 months HF rehospitalization and death rates. Results: Group II patients had a significantly shorter duration of hospitalization; 6.45 ± 2.01 days compared to 9.10 ± 3.82 days among group I patients (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the 6 months rehospitalization and death rates. Conclusion: The focused echocardiography and lung ultrasound-guided therapy for AHF patients resulted in a shorter duration of hospitalization without increased adverse events.