Measuring the Size and Expansion of the Common Femoral Vein as A New Method of Detection and Stratification of Heart Failure

Abstract

Heart Failure (HF) is on the end stage of the disease spectrum with many confounders and thus no specific symptoms and signs. There is a need for a test that can effectively confirm the diagnosis of volume overload in HF at its earliest to guide the initial approach and subsequent management. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new test noted as the Size and Expansion of Femoral Vein (SEFV) in the diagnosis and management of patients with HF. This test was used specifically on asymptomatic patients or those who presented with severe comorbidities. The patients who arrived at the emergency room with a diagnosis of HF or suspected HF were enrolled. Ten patients without HF formed the control group. All patients received a standard physical examination (PE). The patients with the obvious diagnosis of HF by PE formed the HF control group. All patients with tentative diagnoses formed the HF study group. All patients underwent the ultrasound test to measure the size of the common femoral vein (CFV) and artery (CFA). The study enlisted 167 patients with HF or suspected HF. The results showed that the SEFV test was more accurate (98%) than the PE (54%). The SEFV test accurately differentiated between severely sick patients with intravascular overload and moderately sick patients with extravascular overflow. The test was accurate in patients with severe comorbidities (93%) or hypotension (100%). The SEFV test was more accurate in confirming the presence of fluid overload in patients with severe comorbidities or hypotension.