Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Feb 2001
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial[Ultrasonography of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in the diagnosis and monitoring of therapy in patients with chronic congestive heart failure].
This prospective clinical study investigated whether the relatively simple and cost-effective ultrasonography of the inferior vena cava (IVC) represents a valid clinical tool to assess the effectiveness of diuretic therapy in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). ⋯ Ultrasonographic measurements of IVC diameter and inspiratory movements are a quantifiable and reliable approach to assess the hypervolemia associated with CHF. Normalization of inspiratory IVC collapse movement correlates with successful diuretic therapy and can be reliably used for bedside assessment and monitoring treatment in CHF patients.