Position statement on the use of point-of-care ultrasound in heart failure: Recommendations from the Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation, and Clinical Ultrasound Working Groups of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI)

Abstract

This document provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of point-of-care ultrasound in heart failure (HF), offering detailed recommendations on echocardiography, lung ultrasound, and venous ultrasound. These advanced imaging techniques allow for an accurate, detailed, and non-invasive evaluation of heart failure, facilitating rapid and effective clinical decision-making. Echocardiography enables a rapid assessment of cardiac function at the point of care, enhancing traditional physical examination and being essential for the management of heart failure (HF). Lung ultrasound provides a detailed view of the pulmonary status, crucial for diagnosing pulmonary congestion without using ionizing radiation, ideal for continuous monitoring. Venous ultrasound evaluates systemic congestion by measuring the inferior vena cava and other parameters, aiding in the estimation of right atrial pressure and monitoring pressure and volume overload, improving patient understanding and prognosis. Together, the use of these ultrasound modalities not only complements but enriches the traditional physical examination, establishing themselves as indispensable tools in the comprehensive and effective management of patients with heart failure. By incorporating these techniques into clinical practice, healthcare professionals can achieve better evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment, resulting in more personalized management of these patients.

Keywords: Heart failure; Insuficiencia cardíaca; echocardiography; ecocardioscopia; ecografía clínica; ecografía pulmonar; ecografía venosa; inferior vena cava; lung ultrasound; point-of-care ultrasound; vena cava inferior; venous ultrasound.