Actively Recruiting
DRAIN: DRainage in Acute Decompensated Heart faIlure With Pleural effusioNs
Led by Albany Medical College · Updated on 2026-04-30
216
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
171 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study is to assess if removal of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) by a routine procedure called as thoracentesis is helpful to decrease shortness of breath in hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure and have pleural effusion. Researchers will compare thoracentesis with medical therapy to medical therapy alone to see if one treatment is superior to the other treatment in relieving shortness of breath. Participants will : 1. Receive medical therapy with or without thoracentesis 2. Record degree of shortness of breath and quality of life before and after the intervention using predefined standard scales. 3. Telephonic call for 15- 30 mins at day 14 and 30 after enrollment to assess shortness of breath and quality of life
CONDITIONS
Official Title
DRAIN: DRainage in Acute Decompensated Heart faIlure With Pleural effusioNs
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adult patients age >18 years
- Clinical diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure with at least one clinical sign of volume overload such as peripheral edema, pleural effusion, or ascites
- Assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction by echocardiography during index hospitalization or within 3 months prior
- Serum NT-proBNP level >1000 pg/ml or Serum BNP >250 pg/ml at enrollment
- Radiographic evidence of moderate to large pleural effusion occupying more than 1/3rd of the hemithorax on chest X-ray
You will not qualify if you...
- Clinical indication for diagnostic thoracentesis due to fever, infection signs, or atypical pleural effusion not typical for CHF
- Loculated pleural effusion with septations or complex echogenic fluid on thoracic ultrasound
- Clinical indication for therapeutic thoracentesis with massive effusion causing acute respiratory failure needing ventilation or high-flow oxygen >15 liters/min, or tension hydrothorax
- Contraindication to thoracentesis such as uncontrolled bleeding, INR > 2.0, platelet count <50,000
- Patient with mechanical mitral valve where anticoagulation cannot be safely held
- Pleural procedure like thoracentesis, chest tube, or thoracoscopy within 3 months prior
- Cardiac or thoracic surgery within 3 months prior
- Requirement for chronic renal replacement therapy such as dialysis
- Pregnancy
- Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent or current incarceration
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Albany Medical Center
Albany, New York, United States, 12211
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Amit Chopra, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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