Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Lung ultrasound-guided decongestion in heart failure patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Pooled result · HF hospitalization/all-cause mortalityResult — go to the resultRelative risk 0.72 95% CI 0.56–0.93Authors' conclusion
LUS-guided decongestion was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of HF re-hospitalization and HF urgent visits, with a tolerable safety profile, compared to standard care, with similar rates of hypotension, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, and AKI.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with decompensated heart failure (HF)
- Participants
- 1,095 patients · 9 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Lung ultrasound (LUS)-guided management vs standard of care
- Outcome
- HF hospitalization/all-cause mortality
Methodological detailsfixed-effects model
- Fixed-effects model
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Relative risk
0.72
95% CI 0.56–0.93
P = 0.01
LUS-guided management vs Standard of care
RR 0.72 (95% CI 0.56–0.93); P = 0.01
Further pooled results
| Outcome | RR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF hospitalization | 0.65 (0.48–0.88) | P = 0.01 | |
| HF urgent visits | 0.38 (0.22–0.66) | P < 0.0001 | |
| 0.20.5125Relative risk (log scale) |
Safety
| Outcome | RR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hypotension | 1.87 (0.56–6.20) | P = 0.31 | |
| Hypokalemia | 0.93 (0.48–1.82) | P = 0.83 | |
| Hyperkalemia | 0.98 (0.62–1.53) | P = 0.91 | |
| AKI/impaired renal function | 1.08 (0.66–1.77) | P = 0.75 | |
| 0.10.31310Relative risk (log scale) |
Original publication
Lung ultrasound-guided decongestion in heart failure patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Crit Care. Published 4 February 2026. doi:10.
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