Training Medical Residents in the Use of the Venous Excess UltraSound (VExUS) Score for Bedside Volume Assessment.
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: In-person VExUS Training Program, Remote VExUS Training Program, No intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Acute Heart Failure (AHF), Fluid Over-load, Congestion, Congestion, Venous. Basic parameters: No limits · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Switzerland
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Training Medical Residents in the Use of the Venous Excess UltraSound (VExUS) Score for Bedside Volume Assessment: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of two training approaches (in-person versus remote) for teaching medical residents to apply the Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) score for bedside volume assessment in patients with acute heart failure. Resident performance will be compared to that of expert physicians certified in abdominal and duplex sonography.
Detailed description
Accurate assessment of volume status is essential in managing acute heart failure but remains challenging in clinical practice. The VExUS score is a validated ultrasound-based tool integrating inferior vena cava diameter and Doppler assessment of hepatic, portal, and intrarenal veins.
This single-center randomized controlled trial compares two training modalities (in-person vs. remote) in medical residents with basic ultrasound skills. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either training method and compared to a control group of expert physicians.
Primary outcomes include ultrasound image quality assessed using a standardized 100-point score. Secondary outcomes include time to acquisition, VExUS scoring accuracy, self-confidence, and acceptability of training methods.
Interventions
- Behavioral In-person VExUS Training Program
In-person training consisting of a 1-hour theoretical introduction followed by a 3-hour supervised hands-on ultrasound training session focusing on acquisition and interpretation of the VExUS score. - Behavioral Remote VExUS Training Program
Remote training consisting of an e-learning module followed by independently performed ultrasound examinations with asynchronous expert feedback (via phone or email). - Other No intervention
SGUM-certified physicians performing VExUS examinations as expert reference standard.
Primary outcome measures
- Ultrasound Image Quality Score [Time frame: From training until 6 months after completion of training]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Time for Image Acquisition and Interpretation [Time frame: From training until 6 months after completion of training]
- Change in self-confidence in performing VExUS assessment [Time frame: From baseline (before training) to immediately after completion of training]
- Acceptability of the program (quantitative assessment) [Time frame: Immediately after completion of training and during the outcome assessment period (within 2 months after training)]
- VEXUS score [Time frame: From training until 6 months after completion of training]
- Acceptability of the program (qualitative assessment) [Time frame: Immediately after completion of training and during the outcome assessment period (within 2 months after training)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Medical residents in general internal medicine
- Basic ultrasound skills (POCUS component 1 or ≥200 scans)
- Working at study site during study period
Exclusion criteria
- SGUM certification in abdominal ultrasound
- Advanced duplex ultrasound experience
- Prior vascular/duplex training
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Diagnostic
Study locations
Switzerland · 1 center
- Inselspital — Bern
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07541768 · VEXUS Teaching