"The Role of Venous Excess Ultrasound Score in Optimizing Acute Heart Failure Diagnosis and Prognosis

Abstract

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a critical condition with significant morbidity and mortality, necessitating timely and accurate diagnosis for effective management. The Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) score has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, aimed at evaluating venous congestion through ultrasound. This scoring system integrates assessments of the inferior vena cava, hepatic veins, portal veins, and renal venous flow to quantify congestion severity. By providing a real-time assessment of venous pressure, the VExUS score has shown potential in optimizing early diagnosis of AHF and predicting outcomes and overall prognosis. Recent studies suggest that incorporating the VExUS score into clinical practice can enhance patient stratification and guide tailored therapeutic interventions, reducing the need for invasive procedures like right heart catheterization. However, further large-scale studies are required to fully validate its role in predicting long-term outcomes and establishing its place in standard heart failure protocols. We aimed to review the current evidence on the utility of the VExUS score in improving AHF diagnosis and its potential as a prognostic marker, highlighting its technical aspects, clinical implications and future research directions.