Clinical trial NCT03136198
Conditions: Heart Failure Heart Failure Acute Acute Cardiac Pulmonary Edema Acute Cardiac Failure
Keywords: Heart Failure Acute Heart Failure Pulmonary Edema Lung ultrasound Extra vascular lung water B-lines
Sponsor: Indiana University
Start date: 2017-07-10; Completion date: 2019-06-20
Enrollment: 130 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
Nearly 80% of acute heart failure (AHF) patients admitted to the hospital are initially treated in the emergency department (ED). Once admitted, within 30 days post-discharge, 27% of patients are re-hospitalized or die. Attempts to improve outcomes with novel therapies have all failed. The evidence for existing AHF therapies are poor: No currently used AHF treatment is known to improve outcomes. ED treatment is largely the same today as 40 years ago. Congestion, such as difficulty breathing, weight gain, and leg swelling, is the primary reason why patients present to the hospital for AHF. Treating congestion is the cornerstone of AHF management. Yet half of all AHF patients leave the hospital inadequately decongested. The investigators propose a novel approach to aggressively decongest patients in the ED setting: lung ultrasound guided, protocol driven, AHF management. LUS B-lines are a measure of extra-vascular lung water (EVLW). In the setting of AHF, LUS B-lines are a measure of congestion. This simple, easily learned technique has excellent reliability and reproducibility. The investigators hypothesize that a strategy-of-care will outperform usual care. At the present time, usual care is largely empirical. This study will improve the evidence base for ED AHF management. This proposed pilot study, if successful, will lead to an outcome trial examining whether an ED AHF strategy-of-care increases days alive and out of the hospital for patients.

Detailed description:
The primary goal of the BLUSHED AHF pilot trial is to determine whether an early lung ultrasound (LUS) guided, protocol-driven ED AHF strategy-of-care leads to more rapid and sustained resolution of congestion, as measured by LUS B-lines. If the investigators are able to demonstrate this necessary and sufficient information - targeted strategy-of-care is more effective than usual care - they will apply for a follow on study to achieve the following aim.

Aim 1: To demonstrate the effectiveness of a targeted decongestion strategy - LUS guided, protocol-driven ED AHF management - will result in improved 30-day outcomes vs. usual care. This aim will be tested using a randomized, controlled, unblinded, pragmatic, multi-center, simple trial design.

The pilot trial may determine that ED management alone is insufficient to impact the outcome. Thus, the investigators may need to modify their subsequent trial design to include targeted therapy throughout hospitalization. However, the pilot study will demonstrate whether targeted therapy effectively reduces B-lines.

PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT Over one million hospitalizations for AHF occur every year in the US. Within 30 days after hospitalization, over 25% of AHF patients will be dead or re-hospitalized.4 Up to 67% of patients will be re-hospitalized and 36% will be dead by one year. For patients aged 65 years and older, AHF is the most common and most expensive reason for hospitalization. Despite major reductions in morbidity and mortality for chronic HF, considerably less progress has been seen in AHF.

Congestion is the primary reason why AHF patients present to the ED seeking medical care. Congestion is manifest by signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF); dyspnea, orthopnea, edema, and weight gain. Yet, how to best assess, grade, and manage congestion is not well established.

Freedom from congestion is associated with improved outcomes; Yet many patients leave the hospital inadequately decongested. The absence of robust, reliable methods to assess congestion is a primary reason why it is not well-assessed. A recent consensus statement published in 2010 highlights this fact: "…no method to assess congestion…has been validated." The investigators would argue many ED AHF patients are poorly assessed prior to treatment. In addition, they are poorly re-assessed prior to hospitalization to gauge the success or failure of initial management. While physical exam is currently the cornerstone of congestion assessment, it lacks sensitivity and inter-rater reliability.

The investigators challenge the current paradigm of relying on insensitive methods of congestion to guide therapy. Furthermore, they argue the lack of a robust evidence base for ED management of congestion contributes to poor outcomes.

Arms: arm 1: Patients randomized to the LUS strategy of care arm will be treated according to protocol. This protocol only involves therapies used in everyday AHF clinical practice. arm 2: Patients randomized to the usual care arm will also undergo lung ultrasound assessments. However, these results will not be revealed to the care team. Patients will receive treatment per usual, standard care.
Interventions: intervention 1: LUS-guided strategy-of-care intervention 2: Usual Care intervention 3: Intravenous Loop Diuretic intervention 4: Vasodilator intervention 5: Non invasive Ventilation (NIV)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: For patients randomized to the strategy-of-care arm, the LUS guided protocol will be initiated and continued until there is a decrease in B-lines to ≤ 15 or 6 hours of care has been delivered, whichever comes first.

Treatment protocol:

1. IV furosemide (unless already given): 2x single oral dose if on chronic therapy or 20-40 mg if diuretic naive.
2. Optional therapies: non-invasive ventilation, vasodilators (SL, topical, or IV)
3. Reassessment every 2 hours intervention 2: Patients will receive usual AHF care intervention 3: IV loop diuretic intervention 4: IV, topical, or SL Vasodilator intervention 5: Face, mouth, or nasal mask applied to provide positive pressure ventilation

Protocol documents:
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Prot_SAP_002.pdf: 
B-lines Lung Ultrasound Guided ED Management of Acute Heart 
Failure (BLUSHED-AHF) Pilot Trial 
Principal Investigator: Peter S. Pang MD 
IND/IDE Sponsor: NA 
Funded by: NHLBI 
Version Number:  v.8.1 
Jan 23 2018 
 
Version 7.2 
• The overall protocol now matches the specific LUS protocol. 
• The time window for blood draws was clarified. The first draw needs to occur during the ER stay.  The 
final pre-discharge draw needs to occurs as soon as possible prior to discharge. 
• The reassessments have been modified. Rather than every 2 hours in the ED, a minimum of two re-
assessments will occur. The first within 2-4 hours of first treatment.  The second 2-4 hours after the 
first OR pre-discharge from the ED, whichever comes first.  The protocol figure has thus been modified 
accordingly, as well as the LUS imaging times and other places within the protocol.  
• The schedule of events has also been updated to reflect the aforementioned changes 
Version 7.6 
• Changed the time stamp to reflect first recorded time stamp patient was placed in a room to be seen 
by a physician or the first time AHF treatment is given, whichever comes first.  The second part was 
added in case treatment is given by a triage physician. 
• Clarified dosing of Lasix in protocol to a maximum dose of 200mg at any one time. 
• Estimated urine output is acceptable. 
• Clarifications to the protocol re: treatment per the usual care arm. 
• Windows for follow up calls clarified. 
Version 7.8 
1. Clarified the name of time of each scan (T24 changed to HD2) to ensure Image Nomenclature protocol 
and the Study protocol are the same 
- 
Dropped urine output guidance from treatment protocol 
- 
Extended the time window of the study to 6 hours post-enrollment, irrespective of patient location.  
However, this will NOT be a protocol violation if circumstances judged by the investigator do not allow 
for ED guided treatmet to continue. 
- 
Editing and clarifications were also added 
Verion 7.9 
- 
Clarifies first dose of diuretic and difference between treatment arms 
 
 


ii 
 
Version 8.1  
Fixed discrepancy between DSMB charter and protocol regarding an interim analysis 
The initial protocol used time from first ultrasound as the baseline assessment. However, per the initial 
revision listed above, we changed to time of first treatment.  We did this b/c time of order of treatment and 
actual receipt of treatment were potentially large time windows.  We wanted to avoid repeating US before 
any treatment was received.  Unfortunately,this has led to more confusion as occasionally, patients receive 
treatment BEFORE the first US. How to account for this time has been challenging.  As a result, we will revert 
to the original protocol; time of first US as the benchmark.  
 


ii 
 
Table of Contents 
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 5 
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................................................ 5 
PROTOCOL SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... 6 
SCHEMATIC OF STUDY DESIGN ......................................................................................................................... 7 
1 
KEY ROLES ................................................................................................................................................... 7 
2  
INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE........................ 8 
2.1 
Background Information ..................................................................................................................... 8 
2.2 
Rationale .............................................................................................................................................. 9 
2.3 
Potential Risks and Benefits ............................................................................................................ 11 
2.3.1 
Known Potential Risks .................................................................................................. 11 
2.3.2 
Known Potential Benefits ............................................................................................. 11 
3 
OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE ................................................................................................................. 12 
4 
STUDY DESIGN AND ENDPOINTS ........................................................................................................ 12 
4.1 
Description of the Study Design ..................................................................................................... 12 
4.2.1 
Primary Endpoint ........................................................................................................... 13 
4.2.2 
Exploratory Endpoints ................................................................................................... 13 
5 
STUDY ENROLLMENT AND WITHDRAWAL ........................................................................................ 13 
5.1 
Participant Inclusion Criteria ............................................................................................................ 13 
5.2 
Participant Exclusion Criteria .......................................................................................................... 14 
5.3 
Strategies for Recruitment and Retention ..................................................................................... 14 
5.4 
Participant Withdrawal or termination ............................................................................................ 14 
5.4.1 
Reasons for Withdrawal or Termination ..................................................................... 14 
5.4.2 
Handling of Participant Withdrawals or termination ................................................. 15 
5.5 
Premature Termination or Suspension of Study .......................................................................... 15 
6 
STUDY AGENT ........................................................................................................................................... 15 
6.1 
Study Agent(s) and Control Description ........................................................................................ 15 
6.1.1 
Dosing & Dose escalation ............................................................................................ 15 
6.1.2 
Duration of Therapy ...................................................................................................... 17 
7 
STUDY PROCEDURES AND SCHEDULE ............................................................................................. 17 
7.1 
Study Procedures/Evaluations ........................................................................................................ 17 
7.1.1 
Study specific procedures ............................................................................................ 17 
7.1.2 
Standard of care study procedures............................................................................. 17 
7.2 
Laboratory Procedures/Evaluations ............................................................................................... 18 
7.2.1 
Clinical Laboratory Evaluations ................................................................................... 18 
7.2.2 
Other Assays or Procedures........................................................................................ 18 
7.2.3 
Specimen Preparation, Handling, and Storage ........................................................ 18 
7.2.4 
Specimen Shipment ...................................................................................................... 19 
7.3 
Study Schedule ................................................................................................................................. 19 
7.3.1 
Screening........................................................................................................................ 19 
7.3.2 
Enrollment/Baseline ...................................................................................................... 20 
7.3.3 
Follow-up & Final study visit ........................................................................................ 20 
7.3.7 
Schedule of Events Table ............................................................................................ 20 
7.5 
Concomitant Medications ................................................................................................................ 22 
7.6 
Prohibited Medications, Treatments, and Procedures ................................................................ 22 
8 
ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY ..................................................................................................................... 22 
8.1 
Specification of Safety Parameters ................................................................................................ 23 
8.1.1 
Definition of Adverse Events (AE) .............................................................................. 23 


iii 
 
8.1.2 
Definition of Serious Adverse Events (SAE) ............................................................. 23 
8.2 
Classification of an Adverse Event ................................................................................................. 24 
8.2.1 
Severity of Event ........................................................................................................... 24 
8.2.2 
Relationship to Study Agent ........................................................................................ 24 
8.2.3 
Expectedness ................................................................................................................ 24 
8.3 
Time Period and Frequency for Event Assessment and Follow-Up .......................................... 25 
8.4 
Reporting Procedures ...................................................................................................................... 25 
8.4.1 
Adverse Event Reporting ............................................................................................. 25 
8.4.2 
Serious Adverse Event Reporting ............................................................................... 25 
8.5 
Study Halting Rules .......................................................................................................................... 25 
8.6 
Safety Oversight ................................................................................................................................ 25 
9 
CLINICAL MONITORING ........................................................................................................................... 25 
10 
STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS .......................................................................................................... 25 
10.1 
Statistical and Analytical Plans ....................................................................................................... 26 
10.2 
Statistical Hypotheses ...................................................................................................................... 26 
10.3 
Analysis Datasets ............................................................................................................................. 26 
10.4 
Description of Statistical Methods .................................................................................................. 26 
10.4.1 
General Approach ......................................................................................................... 26 
10.4.2  
Baseline Descriptive Statistics .................................................................................... 26 
10.4.3 
Analysis of the Primary Efficacy Endpoint(s) ............................................................ 27 
10.4.4 
Analysis of the EXPLORATORY Endpoint(s) ........................................................... 27 
10.4.5 
Safety Analyses ............................................................................................................. 28 
10.4.6 
Adherence and Retention Analyses ........................................................................... 28 
10.4.7 
Planned Interim Analyses ............................................................................................ 28 
10.5 
Sample Size ....................................................................................................................................... 28 
10.6 
Measures to Minimize Bias .............................................................................................................. 28 
10.6.1 
Enrollment/ Randomization/ Masking Procedures ................................................... 28 
11 
SOURCE DOCUMENTS AND ACCESS TO SOURCE DATA/DOCUMENTS .................................. 29 
12 
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL ............................................................................. 29 
13 
ETHICS/PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS .................................................................................. 30 
13.1 
Ethical Standard ................................................................................................................................ 30 
13.2 
Institutional Review Board ............................................................................................................... 30 
13.3 
Informed Consent Process .............................................................................................................. 30 
13.3.1 
Consent/assent and Other Informational Documents Provided to Participants ... 30 
13.3.2 
Consent Procedures and Documentation .................................................................. 30 
13.4 
Participant and data Confidentiality ................................................................................................ 31 
14 
DATA HANDLING AND RECORD KEEPING ......................................................................................... 31 
14.1 
Data Collection and Management Responsibilities ..................................................................... 31 
14.2 
Study Records Retention ................................................................................................................. 31 
14.3 
Protocol Deviations ........................................................................................................................... 32 
14.4 
Publication and Data Sharing Policy .............................................................................................. 32 
15 
STUDY ADMINISTRATION ....................................................................................................................... 34 
15.1 
Study Leadership .............................................................................................................................. 34 
16 
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ......................................................................................................... 35 
17  
Additional Training Materials ...................................................................................................................... 35 
17.1 
lung ultrasound training overview ................................................................................................... 35 
17.2 
ultrasound secure transfer protocol ................................................................................................ 45 
17.3 
Core lab procedure and lung ultrasound protocol ........................................................................ 46 


iv 
 
18  
LITERATURE REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 1 
 


5 
 
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 
 
AHF 
Acute Heart Failure 
USA 
United States of America 
HF 
Heart Failure 
ED 
Emergency department 
EP 
Emergency Physician 
LUS 
Lung ultrasound 
DAOOH 
Days alive and out of hospital 
NIV 
Non-invasive ventilation (positive pressure ventilation) 
NTG 
Nitroglycerin 
IV 
Intravenous 
SL 
Sub-lingual 
AKI 
Acute Kidney Injury 
WRF 
Worsening renal function 
WHF 
Worsening heart failure 
AE 
Adverse event 
SAE 
Serious Adverse Event 
SBP 
Systolic Blood Pressure 
Hgb 
Hemoglobin 
Hct 
Hematocrit 
IEC 
Institutional Ethics Committee 
IRB 
Institutional Review Board 
GCP 
Good clinical practice 
QC  
Quality Control 
CTSL 
Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab at IU 
IU 
Indiana University 
IWRS 
Internet Web-based Randomization System 
 
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE 
This study will be conducted in full accordance with the Good Clinical Practice: Consolidated Guideline approved by the 
International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and any applicable national and local laws and regulations (e.g., 
Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations [21CFR] Parts 50, 54, 56, 312, and 314).  Any episode of noncompliance will be 
documented. 
The Investigators are responsible for performing the study in accordance with this protocol and the ICH and Good 
Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines and for collecting, recording, and reporting the data accurately and properly.  
Agreement of each Investigator to conduct and administer this study in accordance with the protocol will be 
documented in separate study agreements with the sponsor and other forms as required by national authorities. 
Each Investigator is responsible for ensuring the privacy, health, and welfare of the patients during and after the study 
and must ensure that trained personnel are immediately available in case of a medical emergency.  




7 
 
treatment of patients today is largely the same as 40 years ago.  This proposal aims to 
build the evidence base for ED AHF care.   
 
Using a multi-center, randomized controlled design, this pilot study will test whether a 
strategy of care – lung ultrasound (LUS) guided protocol-driven AHF therapy – 
outperforms usual care at reducing congestion in the ED setting. 
 
Objectives: 
 
1: To determine whether a strategy of care – early LUS guided, protocol-driven ED AHF 
therapy – leads to more rapid resolution of congestion.  
2. To demonstrate feasibility of recruitment and compliance with study protocol to inform 
future study design and enrollment projections 
Endpoint 
B-lines ≤ 15 at the conclusion of ED AHF management or maximum of 6 hours after 
enrollment, whichever comes first. 
Population: 
Emergency department (ED) AHF patients.  All patients who meet inclusion and no 
exclusion criteria will be enrolled within 3 hours of presentation.  
Phase: 
2 
Number of Sites 
enrolling participants: 
Three sites (4 total hospitals).  Projected sample size, n=130. 
Description of Study 
Agent:  
Strategy of Care:  LUS guided protocol-driven ED AHF care vs. usual care. 
Study Duration: 
2 years.  There will be three months of start up, and three months of study conclusion 
work.  Enrollment will occur over 18 months, which equals 7.2 patients month.  With 4 
sites (2 at IU, 1 at Detroit, and 1 at Vanderbilt), this equals 1.8 patients/month. 
Participant Duration: 
90 days post discharge 
 
SCHEMATIC OF STUDY DESIGN 
 
*whichever comes first 
^only if part of standard of care.  Only NTpro and hsTnT will be drawn outside of standard of care 
1 
KEY ROLES 


8 
 
Our team of investigators is uniquely qualified to successfully complete this study. We leverage complementary 
experience and expertise, in particular, early (ED) enrollment, lung ultrasound, congestion management, and clinical 
trials.  Most importantly, we have worked close together for nearly 10 years.1-24 
Peter S. Pang MD (PI) is an Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine (IU 
SOM).  
Christopher O’Connor MD is the CEO of the Heart and Vascular Institute at INOVA in Virginia.  He will serve as a 
consultant and the principal advisor.  
Vicki Noble MD (Case Western Reserve University) is an Associate Professor and international ultrasound expert.  She 
will head the Core Lab and function as the independent, blinded, image reviwer 
Frances Russell MD is the Director of the Division of Ultrasound and Directs the US Fellowship in the Department of 
Emergency Medicine at IU SOM. She will lead the study operations related to LUS image acquisition at IU SOM.  
Changyu Shen PhD, from the Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical 
Center will lead the Data Core at IU.  
Sean Collins MD (Vanderbilt University), Vice-Chair of Research, will the site PI at Vanderbilt.  
Robinson Ferre MD is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Vanderbilt University and Director of the 
Division of Emergency Ultrasound and Associate Program Director of the emergency ultrasound fellowship.  He will lead 
the study operations related to LUS image acquisition at Vanderbilt.  
Phillip Levy MD is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Wayne State University.  He will be the Site PI at Detroit 
Receiving Hospital.  
Rob Ehrman MD is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Assistant Director of Emergency Ultrasound at 
Detroit Receiving Hospital.  He will lead the study operations related to LUS image acquisition at Detroit.  
2  
INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE  
 
2.1 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
Over one million hospitalizations for AHF occur every year in the US. Within 30 days after hospitalization, over 25% of 
AHF patients will be dead or re-hospitalized.25 By one year after hospitalization, up to 67% of patients will be re-
hospitalized and 36% will be dead.26  Worldwide, the costs of AHF exceed 100 billion annually.27 For patients aged 65 
years and older, AHF is the most common and most expensive reason for hospitalization.28 Despite major reductions in 
morbidity and mortality for chronic HF, considerably less progress has been seen in AHF.29-31  
The emergency department (ED) initiates diagnosis and management for the vast majority of AHF patients. Nearly 80% 
of all admissions originate from the ED. Delays in diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and delayed or improper treatment are costly, 
associated with greater morbidity and mortality.32,33 One of the most expensive decisions in healthcare is made routinely 
from the ED; who gets hospitalized vs. discharged. Despite this crucial starting role, ED AHF pharmacological 
management today is largely the same as 40 years ago.34 In fact, guidelines state: “the treatment of AHF remains 
largely opinion-based with little good evidence to guide therapy.”35  Consensus statements from the American Heart 
Association as well as a working group from the NHLBI on ED AHF management further corroborate this lack of 
evidence: “the evidence base on which this foundation of acute care is built is astonishly thin.”9,12 There remains a critical 
unmet need for evidence based ED AHF management. 
Congestion is the primary reason why AHF patients present to the ED seeking medical care.36-40 Congestion is manifest 
by signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF) — for example, dyspnea, orthopnea, edema, and weight gain.  Yet how to 
best assess, grade, and manage congestion is not well established.39,41  Only recently has the dosing of IV loop diuretics 
been studied; however patients were enrolled up to 24 hours after admission.33  


9 
 
2.2 
RATIONALE  
Limitations of Current AHF Therapy 
There are currently no Class I, Level of Evidence A therapeutic guideline recommendations for AHF, highlighting the 
unmet need.4,5  In fact, therapeutic recommendations from the ACCF/AHA begin with hospital based management, 
highlighting the absence of ED based evidence.37  The last ED based guidelines were published in 2007 and have yet to 
be updated.42  We argue this lack of evidence leads to tremendous variation in ED care. Combined, this contributes to 
worse outcomes. 
Targeting Congestion in AHF 
Freedom from congestion is associated with improved outcomes;43-48 yet many patients leave the hospital inadequately 
decongested.43,49-52 In fact, many patients leave the hospital without a pre-discharge assessment of congestion.38,39 We 
would argue many ED AHF patients are poorly assessed prior to hospitalization. The absence of robust, reliable methods 
to assess congestion is a primary reason why it is not assessed.39,53 A recent consensus statement published in 2010 
highlights this fact: “…no method to assess congestion prior to discharge has 
been validated.”39 While physical exam is currently the cornerstone of 
congestion assessment, it lacks sensitivity and inter-rater reliability.53,54 The ED 
is the beginning of AHF management for >75% of admitted patients;55,56  delays 
in diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and resultant delays in management are associated 
with greater morbidity and mortality.32,33  
Lung Ultrasound 
For years, the lungs have been considered ‘off-limits’ to ultrasound: with 
aerated lungs, the ultrasound beam is reflected and scattered due to acoustic 
mismatch.57,58 However, in the setting of pulmonary congestion, extra vascular 
lung water (EVLW) can be directly visualized and quantitated.58-60 Lung ultrasound measurement of B-lines are an 
objective, semi-quantitative measure of extra vascular lung water (EVLW).60 B-lines are well-defined, vertical echogenic 
lines, originating from water-thickened interlobular septa.60 (Figure 1) They are a marker of congestion.  
LUS improves diagnostic accuracy and is highly reproducible.61-67  Intra and inter-observer variability of B-line capture 
and summary have been reported as low as 5.1% and 7.4%, respectively.68 In a recent meta-analysis, LUS was the best 
test to affirm the diagnosis of AHF, more than natriuretic peptide (NP) (likelihood ratio positive for the diagnosis of AHF 
by LUS was 7.4 (95% CI 4.2-12.8) and LR negative 0.16, (95% CI 0.05-0.51)).61 This may reflect the additional value of LUS 
when patients have chronically elevated NP levels.  Recent guideline and consensus statements also support the use of 
LUS for diagnosis.69-73   


10 
 
Importantly, B-lines are a dynamic marker. In dialysis patients, B-lines decrease markedly pre/post dialysis.74 In AHF 
patients, B lines generally decrease throughout hospitalization.75,76  However, persistence of B-lines pre-discharge 
identifies patients at higher risk for worse outcomes.76,77 B-lines even outperformed BNP as a prognostic marker.75 
Finally, serial measurement of B-lines are both easy to learn and perform.62,63,78-80 LUS is also low cost, and does not 
involve radiation. Computerized diagnostic aids have already been pilot tested with excellent results, demonstrating the 
ease of B-line scoring.81 Hand held machines perform as well as a standard ECHO platform or US machines.63,82 The ease 
of LUS will facilitate its generalizability and dissemination. Non-physicians may be future users of bedside LUS 
assessment, further supporting its generalizability.  
We will also perform serial measures of LUS during hospitalization 
to further study its prognostic significance.75,76,83  By capturing 
treatment during hospitalization, we will better understand the 
trajectory of LUS B-line resolution, and determine whether future 
studies should continue to target LUS B-lines during inpatient 
therapy. We will also track physical exam, NTproBNP levels, eGFR, 
and hemoglobin/hematocrit levels as other measures of 
decongestion, to better understand the downstream impact of ED 
care.50,84,85 This will allow us to better discriminate the value of LUS 
compared to other measures.  
Prior Studies 
Sonographic evidence of pulmonary congestion is associated with 
worse outcomes. 
We performed a single center pilot study of 44 patients who presented to the ED with dyspnea, evidence of B lines by 
LUS, and were admitted for AHF.  Patients underwent LUS imaging during the ED (T0), within 24 hours (T1) and at 
discharge (Td).  Vital status was determined by phone follow up within 90 days.  Using a pre-specified cut-off of 15 B-
lines as a marker of persistent pulmonary congestion, 50% of patients had evidence of EVLW at Td.  The 28 sector 
scoring method was utilized.60,64 The average number of B-lines at T0 was 78±47 with a statistically significant reduction 
at T1 (44±33, p<.001) and Td (26±26, p<.05). (See Figure 2) Thirty-two patients (73%) were successfully contacted for 
follow-up.   
During the follow-up period (median: 58 days, interquartile range: 
44-82 days) 15 events occurred: 2 deaths and 12 all-cause re-
hospitalizations. In the subset of patients who experienced events 
during follow-up, 93% were discharged with persistent presence 
of pulmonary congestion (> 15 B-lines) as measured by LUS.   
Another pilot study of patients (n=100) admitted to a cardiology 
ward for shortness of breath and clinical concern for AHF 
demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in B lines at 
discharge (20+/- 23) vs. admission (48+/-48, p<.0001).  At 6-month 
follow up, patients with ≥ 15 B-lines at discharge were significantly 
more likely to be re-hospitalized. (HR 11.7 (95% CI 1.3-106.6) (See 
Figure 3).76 In 27% of patients with >30 B-lines, no rales were 
reported by auscultation. 
Additional work performed by one our study team members, Vicki 
Noble, demonstrated a strong correlation between LUS B-lines and patients undergoing dialysis. This proof of concept 
supports B-lines as responsive to the removal of fluid.74  Coiro et.al. recently published a study of LUS performed 
throughout hospitalization, demonstrating the prognostic significance of residual congestion, as measured by B-lines.  
T0
T1
Td
0
50
100
150
200
250
B-lines (n°)
Figure 2 


11 
 
Patients with ≥ 30 B lines had significantly worse combined outcome of all-cause mortality and HF re-hospitalizations at 
90 days.75 
Importantly, these pilot studies also demonstrate the feasibility of performing LUS at the time of presentation and 
during hospitalization.  What has not been tested however, is the use of LUS to guide therapy. 
2.3 
POTENTIAL RISKS AND BENEFITS  
 
2.3.1 KNOWN POTENTIAL RISKS  
Overview. Current ED AHF treatment involves the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), IV loop diuretics, and IV, SL, or 
topical vasodilators.  Each of these are highlighted in guidelines.  However, the level of evidence supporting these 
treatments is relatively weak, with the strongest evidence supporting the use of IV loop diuretics.  The evidence is even 
weaker for ED AHF treatment; for example, the AHA/ACC guidelines begin with hospitalization, highlighting the lack of 
evidence for ED AHF care. Although the evidence is weak, these medications are the current standard of care for AHF.  In 
patients receiving strategy-of-care, only therapies currently utilized will be employed. There are NO novel therapies or 
unapproved treatments. 
Common Risks. The greatest risks are not necessarily different than those already associated with these therapies.  
However, the risk may or may not be increased due to use of these treatments in a guided protocol strategy.  For IV loop 
diuretics, commonly encountered risks include potential acute kidney injury (AKI) and over diuresis leading to 
hypovolemia.  Electrolyte abnormalities may also occur.  Per routine standard of care at each of the sites, electrolytes 
are routinely checked during the initial 24-48 hours of treatment.  These will be recorded. However, should no further 
electrolytes be measured after admission, a pre-discharge lab draw will be performed. While AKI may occur, more 
recent data suggests that failure to decongest is associated with greater risk for adverse outcomes than transient AKI.  
To add a margin of safety, only patients with an eGFR ≥45 will be enrolled.  Finally, we will assess eGFR prior to discharge 
(if measured as part of standard of care) to better understand whether our proposed strategy-of-care is associated with 
worsening renal function.  For nitrates, the greatest risk is hypotension.  All patients will have IV access for fluids, if 
needed.  Of note, the ESC guidelines allow for the potential use of IV nitrates in patients with a SBP > 110mmHg and only 
recommend avoiding them if the SBP is < 110 mmHg.  Another common side effect is headache, which will be treated 
with Tylenol or other non-narcotic analgesic medication.  Use of NIV is both safe and effective.  Greatest risks are those 
of aspiration in those with altered mental status.  However, emergency physicians are well versed in the use of NIV as 
well as endotracheal intubation.  No patients who are unable to protect their airway will be placed on NIV.  Patients may 
also complain of claustrophobia or discomfort with the tight fitting mask.  Attempts to adjust accordingly will be made. 
Anecdotally, patients feel significantly better and usually the improvement outweighs the discomfort.  Other issues such 
as skin necrosis from long-term use of NIV does not apply to the short-term use of NIV. 
An unknown risk is whether or not our treatment strategy is associated with myocardial injury.  Thus, we will measure 
hsTnT at both baseline and pre-discharge to ascertain the incidence of myocardial injury. 
Such measurements of hsTnT as potential electrolytes, eGFR, and pre-specified NTproBNP and Hgb/Hct will require 
additional blood draws, however, these will be limited in volume.  No more than 40 cc total will be drawn for study 
purposes.  While there are no known serious health risks related to the additional blood draw, there is the potential risk 
of pain, bruising, and rarely infection.  Blood will be drawn by experienced technicians or research staff and whenever 
possible it will be obtained at a time when blood is being obtained for other tests that were ordered.  
2.3.2 KNOWN POTENTIAL BENEFITS  
Patients enrolled in this study who are receiving the strategy-of-care or usual care may receive a benefit such as 
decreased mortality, or less frequent hospitalizations related to HF, or feel better faster, or have less myocardial injury, 


12 
 
AHF patients, if this study demonstrates sufficient safety to then test in a future efficacy study, which if positive will 
show that and ED AHF strategy-of-care has beneficial clinical outcomes. If the study shows that a LUS guided ED AHF 
strategy-of-care is not safe with the current study design, future patients may be spared the cost of ineffective ED AHF 
management, and spared the potential for any possible side effects.  
3 
OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE 
Objectives: 
1: To determine whether a strategy of care – early LUS guided, protocol-driven ED AHF therapy – leads to more rapid 
resolution of congestion.  
2. To demonstrate feasibility of recruitment and compliance with study protocol to inform future study design and 
enrollment projections 
Purpose: 
This pilot trial is designed to provide the necessary and sufficient information for a larger, definitive trial.   
Our overarching hypothesis: A protocol-driven ED AHF strategy-of-care, guided by lung ultrasound (LUS), will lead to 
improved 30 and 90-day outcomes. Importantly, this strategy-of-care will utilize only currently available therapies – non-
invasive ventilation, vasodilators (sublingual, topical, and/or IV), and IV loop diuretics.  Successful completion of our 
specific aims will provide the necessary and sufficient information to determine whether a LUS guided ED strategy leads 
to more rapid and sustained decongestion.  A subsequent multi-center, randomized, simple, strategy-of-care trial, will 
test whether LUS guided, protocol-driven ED AHF management reduces 30 and 90-day post-discharge days alive and out 
of hospital (DAOOH).  
We focus on a subset of AHF patients.6,86 If successful, we may expand the patient population in future studies. 
However, the following critical issue needs to be addressed prior to initiation of a large, simple, efficacy study: does ED 
AHF management, guided by LUS, lead to rapid and sustained decongestion above and beyond usual care? Although this 
pilot study focuses solely on ED management, we will assess patients throughout hospitalization, carefully following 
management to inform subsequent trial design. To minimize heterogeneity of treatment, we exclude patients in 
cardiogenic shock or hypertensive emergency.6,86 This project will generate new, critically important knowledge about 
the ED phase of AHF management. 
 
4 
STUDY DESIGN AND ENDPOINTS 
 
4.1 
DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY DESIGN 
A multi-center, prospective, randomized, controlled, unblinded strategy-of-care pilot trial.  All potential ED patients will 
receive an initial LUS scan. Performing LUS is within the standard of care and will be done at no cost to patients. It is not 
frequently used however, either for diagnosis, prognosis, or to guide clinical therapy. However, treating clinicians will be 
blinded to these results to minimize contamination of the usual care arm. If clinicians choose to perform their own LUS, 
those patients will not be excluded.  Patients who provide written informed consent and meet all inclusion and no 
exclusion criteria will be randomized 1:1 to our LUS-guided strategy-of-care vs. usual care.  While no further LUS guided 
intervention will occur for usual care patients, similar to our LUS-guided arm, serial LUS assessments will occur 
throughout hospitalization as well as pre-specified biomarkers and physical exam.  For patients randomized to the 
strategy-of-care arm, the LUS guided protocol will be initiated and continued until there is a decrease in B-lines to ≤ 15 
or 6 hours of care has been delivered or patient has left the ED, whichever comes first. Trained research personnel will 
acquire LUS images. All images will be stored and overread by an independent, expert ultrasonographer blinded to 
treatment arm.  


13 
 
Safety of patients are paramount.  If a potential life threatening etiology is identified, the clinical team will be made 
aware immediately, irrespective of randomization arm.  These occurrences will be recorded in the eCRF.  While this will 
be a rare event, we will a priori establish that an additional patient will be accrued into the study and an additional 
modified intent to treat population for analysis will be performed, excluding these patients where a life-threatening 
etiology was identified (i.e. pericardial tamponade). 
For patients who do NOT meet eligibility criteria, the results of their LUS will be provided to the clinical team as 
requested, as these patients are no longer at risk for contamination of the usual care arm. 
 
4.2.1 PRIMARY ENDPOINT 
B-lines ≤ 15 at the conclusion of ED AHF management (i.e. patient has left the ED) or maximum of 6 hours after 
enrollment, whichever comes first. 
4.2.2 EXPLORATORY ENDPOINTS 
The following table lists the exploratory endpoints 
Table 3: Exploratory Endpoints 
 
Total DAOOH through 30 and 90 days post-discharge 
Association of B-lines at discharge and 30 and 90 day 
outcomes 
Change in biomarkers from presentation to pre-discharge 
Association of baseline, discharge, and change with 30  and 90 
day outcomes 
Time to reach B-lines <15 
B lines < 15 at 24 hours and at discharge 
Composite of 30-day all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) re-
hospitalizations, and CV emergency department (ED) revisits.  
CV endpoints are defined according to the 2014 ACC/AHA Key 
Data Elements and Definitions for Cardiovascular Endpoint 
Events.87 
Also for same endpoint, but through 90 days 
All Cause readmissions, All cause ED re-visits 
Change in physical exam findings and body weight from 
presentation to pre-discharge 
Description of ED pharmacologic treatment 
Description of hospital based AHF treatment 
Inter and intraobserver agreement 
5 
STUDY ENROLLMENT AND WITHDRAWAL 
 
5.1 
PARTICIPANT INCLUSION CRITERIA 
1) Age ≥ 21 years 
2) Presents with shortness of breath at rest or with minimal exertion 
3) Clinical diagnosis of AHF and presence of > 15 total bilateral B-lines distributed in at least 4 zones on initial LUS 
4) Hx of chronic HF and any one of the following: 
i. 
Chest radiograph consistent with AHF  
ii. 
Jugular venous distension 
iii. 
Pulmonary rales on auscultation 
iv. 
Lower extremity edema 


14 
 
5.2 
PARTICIPANT EXCLUSION CRITERIA 
1) Chronic renal dysfunction, including ESRD or eGFR < 45ml//min/1.73m2.     
2) Shock of any kind. Any requirement for vasopressors or inotropes. 
3) SBP < 100 or > 175mmHg 
4) Need for immediate intubation  
5) Acute Coronary Syndrome OR new ST-segment elevation/depression on EKG.  (troponin release outside of ACS is 
allowed)  
6) Fever >101.5ºF  
7) End stage HF: transplant list, ventricular assist device 
8) Anemia requiring transfusion 
9) Known interstitial lung disease 
10) Suspected acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) 
11) Pregnant or recently pregnant within the last 6 months 
5.3 
STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION 
Each site will have a lead PI and US Director, along with a dedicated study team.  This study team, comprised of research 
assistants and coordinators, will perform both electronic screening (via tracking boards) and maintain a continuous 
physical presence in the ED to identify patients. All sites currently screen patients at minimum 16 hours each day, 5 days 
per week. Additionally, Detroit has a 24/7 program, Vanderbilt does this 6 days a week, and Indianapolis has 6 hours of 
coverage on the weekends.  These methods have been utilized with success in previous trials.   Standard computerized 
internet-based screening logs will be maintained to identify ED AHF patients admitted to the hospital and record screen 
failures. All patients with a final diagnosis of AHF at the time of hospital discharge will be considered to have AHF. 
As we aim to design a pragmatic, ED-based study  our inclusion/exclusion criteria are relatively broad compared to other 
therapeutic clinical trials.   
Screen Failures: 
Patients who sign an informed consent but who are not randomized will be considered Screen Failures. Only data for 
randomized patients will be entered into the CRF.  Serious adverse events should be reported for these patients from 
the time the ICF is signed through the time that the patient is declared a screen failure.  One expected reason for screen 
failure will be the absence of > 15 B-lines at baseline. 
5.4 
PARTICIPANT WITHDRAWAL OR TERMINATION 
 
5.4.1 REASONS FOR WITHDRAWAL OR TERMINATION 
In accordance with the guiding principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, any patient is free to withdraw from 
participating in this study at any time and for whatever reason, specified or unspecified, and without prejudice. 
Investigators should attempt to determine the cause of withdrawal and, if desired by the patient, to make it possible for 
the patient to continue to participate in the study.  The extent of a patient's withdrawal from the study (i.e. withdrawal 
from further study treatment, withdrawal from any further contact, etc.) should be documented.  Every effort should be 
taken to follow all randomized patients, to the extent that the patient will allow, for the full follow-up period. 
Investigators may discontinue study treatment for any other reasons concerning the health or well-being of the patient. 


15 
 
The reason for and date of study discontinuation and the reason for and date of withdrawal from the study must be 
recorded on the CRF.  If study is discontinued because of an adverse event or a clinically significant abnormal laboratory 
test result, evaluations will continue until the event has resolved or stabilized or until a determination of a cause 
unrelated to the study procedure is made.  The specific event or laboratory finding(s) must be documented.  All 
evaluations should be performed, according to the protocol.   
5.4.2 HANDLING OF PARTICIPANT WITHDRAWALS OR TERMINATION 
The Full Analysis Set (FAS) will include all randomized patients. In accordance with the intent-to-treat principle, patients 
will be analyzed by the group to which they were randomized. Misrandomized patients (patients randomized in error 
who did not receive any study intervention) will be excluded. Analyses in the FAS will constitute the main efficacy results 
for the primary and secondary study efficacy endpoints. 
The Per Protocol Set (PPS) will be a subset of the FAS and will exclude patients with major protocol violations.   The 
major protocol violations that will result in exclusion from the PPS will be identified prior to unblinding the treatment 
assignments for final analysis. Patients will be analyzed in the treatment group to which they were randomized. Results 
of analyses in this analysis population will support the primary efficacy analyses in the FAS. 
5.5 
PREMATURE TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF STUDY 
The study is overseen by a DSMB.  They may terminate the study at any time if the safety of patients is at jeopardy. 
6 
STUDY AGENT 
 
6.1 
STUDY AGENT(S) AND CONTROL DESCRIPTION 
This study will test a strategy-of-care vs. usual care for ED AHF management.  Only therapies already in use will be 
applied.  For example, NIV, IV loop diuretics, and nitrovasodilators.  The usual care arm will also follow the treatment 
protocol, unless the clinician explicitly states no further treatment is warranted based on their clinical assessment to 
better reflect real-world conditions.   No drugs or therapies that are not approved by the FDA will be allowed. 
6.1.1 DOSING & DOSE ESCALATION 
The algorithm below outlines the treatment protocol. 


16 
 
 
• 
All enrolled patients should receive IV furosemide per the protocol box. 
o 
IF patients already received furosemide prior to the time of enrollment, BRANCH point. 
 
Patients in usual care arm will NOT receive any further diuretic. 
 
Patients in LUS arm will receive further diuretic to equal 2x single oral dose. For example, if the patient 
usually takes 80 BID at home, but then already received 40mg at arrival to the ED, if in the LUS arm, would 
receive an extra 120mg.  (200 is the maximum single time dose.) 
• 
Clinical assessments should be recorded irrespective of treatment arm.  However, the initial ED LUS assessment will be 
considered Time 0. 


17 
 
 
*IMPORTANT – the clinical assessment alone arm will ALSO have LUS performed – however, these results will NOT be shared with 
clinical caregiving team 
** ALL enrolled patients will be re-assessed at least twice during their ED stay.  First re-assessment will occur within 2-4 hours of first 
TREATMENT.  Assessments outside this window are NOT allowed for study purposes unless at the discretion of the investigator.  The 
second re-assessment will occur EITHER 2-4 hours after the first OR prior to discharge.  IF the pre-discharge assessment is missed in 
the ER, this should occurs ASAP after arrival to the hospital floor. 
NOTE: the maximum dose allowed at any one timeof IV Lasix is 200mgIV.   
NOTE: For additional IV loop diuretic doses, the options under Restart Algorithm are three options.  Clinical/Research team may 
choose one of the three loop diuretic dose options. 
NOTE: for both arms: After each reassessment, the clinical physician will be asked: 
 
1. “In your clinical opinion, is the patient still volume overloaded?”   (Yes, No, Not sure) 
 
2. If Yes, then the following question will be asked: “Do you think the patient warrants additional treatment now?” 
 
3. If Yes, then FOR THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT ARM ONLY: treatment will occur per the algorithm.  (Patients in the LUS 
intervention arm will ONLY receive further therapy guided by LUS) 
NOTE: The protocol is not optional.  Of course, patient safety comes first, similar to all other interventional trials.  However, similar 
to other interventional studies, once randomized, the study protocol should continue forward.  If, in the opinion of the investigator, 
continuing treatment is potentially unsafe (i.e. SBP has decreased significantly, very brisk diuresis) uptitration per protocol may be 
held. 
The protocol continues until 6 hours after randomization.  Even if the patient is on the floor and under the care of the inpatient 
team. If, in the opinon of the investigator, the protocol should not be continued once on the hospital floor, this is allowed and 
should be marked on the case report form. 
6.1.2 DURATION OF THERAPY 
Both arms will continue until 6 hours after randomization. 6 hours was chosen to avoid confounding by patients with 
overly long ED LOS. At minimum, patients should receive at least one round of treatment.  The protocol continues even 
if patients reach the floor. However, if in the opinon of the investigator, the protocol should not be continued once on the 
hospital floor, this is allowed and should be marked on the case report form. 
7 
STUDY PROCEDURES AND SCHEDULE 
 
7.1 
STUDY PROCEDURES/EVALUATIONS 
7.1.1 STUDY SPECIFIC PROCEDURES  
The table below in section 7.3.7 highlights study specific procedures.  Only patients who sign written informed consent 
will undergo study specific procedures. 
7.1.2 STANDARD OF CARE STUDY PROCEDURES  


18 
 
Except for the ED phase of management, there will be no other change to standard of care procedures for either 
treatment arm. Patients will continue to be assessed however, during hospitalization. 
7.2 
LABORATORY PROCEDURES/EVALUATIONS 
 
7.2.1 CLINICAL LABORATORY EVALUATIONS  
Lab testing will be analyzed by the clinical lab at each respective institution for baseline chemistry and 
hemoglobin/hematocrit values. This reflects our pragmatic approach.  If routine labs are performed clinically within 6 
hours of the follow up time-point, these results will be used for study purposes (Table 2).  If routine lab work is not 
drawn, the closest clinical lab draw will be recorded in the eCRF unless already recorded (i.e. the baseline value).  NO 
labs, other than for NTproBNP and hsTnT will be drawn for study purposes. Samples will be stored and shipped to 
Indiana University at the Clinical and Translational Sciences Laboratory.  At quarterly intervals, samples will be analyzed 
in our core lab, with expertise in clinical lab sampling.   
All clinical laboratory test results outside of the reference range will be interpreted in the context of the patient 
underlying disease state by the Investigator using the following categories: 
• 
abnormal but not a clinically-significant worsening 
• 
abnormal and a clinically-significant worsening 
A laboratory test result that has significantly worsened (according to medical judgment) compared with the baseline 
result will be recorded on the CRF as an adverse event and monitored. An adverse event includes a laboratory or 
diagnostic test abnormality (once confirmed by repeat testing as needed) that results in the temporary or permanent 
cessation of treatment, or requires medical treatment or further diagnostic work-up. The AE and SAE reporting period 
extends to day 5 of hospitalization or discharge, whichever comes first, unless otherwise specified. 
A local laboratory will be utilized to analyze screening entry criteria.  
7.2.2 OTHER ASSAYS OR PROCEDURES 
NT-proBNP and hsTnT levels will be analyzed centrally.  Roche Diagnostics will provide in-kind support for the cost of 
analytical testing and reagent support.   
7.2.3 SPECIMEN PREPARATION, HANDLING, AND STORAGE 
All human body fluids should be handled as potentially infectious.  Personal protective equipment should be used.  If any 
blood is collected using an indwelling catheter at least 0.5mL discard sample will be taken if the catheter was flushed 
with saline. 
2 aliquots per sample type per collection = 6 total aliquots 
Time Point 
Tube Type 
Blood Volume 
T0 = 0 hour (Baseline) 
Serum Separator 
One tube, ~ 4cc 
Lithium Heparin 
One tube, ~ 4cc 
EDTA Plasma 
One tube, ~ 4cc 
Serum Separator 
One tube, ~ 4cc 


19 
 
T1 = Day 7 or discharge +/- 24 
hours 
Lithium Heparin 
One tube, ~ 4cc 
EDTA Plasma 
One tube, ~ 4cc 
Samples will be collected in the following order:   
1. Serum separator 
2. Lithium heparin 
3. EDTA plasma 
Every attempt to collect both samples should be made. 
Specimens must be processed within 3 hours of collection and no later than 4 hours.  This includes collection, centrifuge, 
aliquot, and then frozen.  Samples should be held at 4 degrees Celsius until processed. 
Standard venipuncture techniques or other standard blood collection methods will be used. These must be in 
accordance with institutional standards, policies, guidelines, recommendations, and requirements. 
After collection, please use the following instructions for guidance.  If there is doubt, the tube manufacturer instructions 
are the final arbiter for any disputes. 
Serum: After collection, let sit at room temperature for ~30 minutes to allowing clotting to occur.  Then centrifuge at 
1000-1300 g for 10-15 minutes at room temperature. 
Lithium Heparin plasma: After collection, invert tube gently 10 times to ensure mixing with anti-coagulant.  Then 
centrifuge at 1000-1300 g for 10-15 minutes at room temperature. 
EDTA: After collection, invert tube gently 10 times to ensure mixing with anti-coagulant.  Then centrifuge at 1000-1300 g 
for 10-15 minutes at room temperature 
All tubes should be removed from centrifuge immediately upon completion and when safe to do so.  Remove at least 
0.5cc of supernatant for each aliquot, with 2 aliquots per tube. DO NOT MIX or POOL supernatant from separate pools 
together. 
Each aliquot must be stored in appropriate cryovials, for storage at -20degrees Celsius or colder.  Cryovials are pre-
labeled without PHI. 
Freezers must have temperature logs available for review. 
7.2.4 SPECIMEN SHIPMENT 
Frozen biomarker specimens will be batch shipped on a quarterly enrollment basis on Dry Ice. A specimen shipping form 
will accompany all shipments with a copy kept at the site. All samples should be stored at -20C or lower until the sample 
is shipped.  Whole blood will be collected, processed (centrifuged locally) and stored appropriately for shipment to 
Indiana University (IU) for central processing.    
All personnel responsible for shipping of specimens are certified by their respective institutions.  IU will provide the 
minimum required procedures. Shipping procedures are defined by the appropriate CTSL standard operating 
procedures.  Shipping services, if required, will include documentation, QC, manifest creation and dry ice (if required). 
Detailed shipping information will be sent to each site prior to shipment. 
7.3 
STUDY SCHEDULE 
7.3.1 SCREENING 


20 
 
A signed and dated informed consent form will be obtained before any study-specific screening procedures are 
performed.  Results of evaluations obtained as part of routine medical care, which are performed prior to obtaining 
informed consent, may be used in place of the protocol-specified evaluations.  Patients will acknowledge and agree to 
the use of this information for the study by giving informed consent.  
At the Baseline Visit, patients will be assigned by the Internet Web-based Randomization System (IWRS) a unique 
permanent identification number (referred to as the patient identification number) such that all randomized patients 
from each center are given consecutive identification numbers by the IWRS in successive order of inclusion.  We will 
utilize the REDCap randomization module.  (NOTE: thus each patient will have two ID’s – 1) generated by IWRS and 2) 
blood specimen label) 
Prospective study patients will have presented to the hospital for urgent therapy for AHF.  Potential patients will be 
identified either en route to or upon arriving at the ED/hospital. Routine assessments associated with usual patient care 
may be used for the purposes of screening and may be completed in any order. Study specific procedures must be 
completed only after Informed Consent is obtained.  
Randomization will occur within three hours of patient’s arrival to a room within the ED where they can be seen by a 
physician or the first time AHF treatment is given. Waiting room time does not count against these three hours.  
The following procedures will be performed prior to or during Screening: 
• 
Obtain written informed consent (must be performed as the first study-specific procedure) 
• 
Review of prior medical history 
• 
Review of prior and concomitant medications 
• 
Physical examination (including height and weight when reasonably possible) 
• 
Vital signs measurements (includes systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, body temperature, oxygen 
saturation reading and respiratory rate) 
• 
12-Lead Electrocardiogram  
• 
Chest X-Ray (this is not a requirement however, for inclusion) 
• 
Blood collection for local laboratory tests, including BNP or NT-proBNP, and pregnancy test if applicable. 
• 
Inquiry about Adverse events 
7.3.2 ENROLLMENT/BASELINE 
Patients who continue to fulfill all of the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be randomized no later than 3 hours after the 
first recorded time stamp when patient placed in a room to be seen by a provider.  Waiting room time does not count. 
Randomization will occur via central IWRS system.  
7.3.3 FOLLOW-UP & FINAL STUDY VISIT 
Patients will be followed for a maximum of 90 days post-discharge.  There will be NO further in-person visits once 
discharged.  Patients will be called however at 30 and 90 days post-discharge ((+) 30 business days or at the discretion of 
the local site PI to assess vital status and re-hospitalizations or ED visits. 
7.3.7 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TABLE 
 


21 
 
 Schedule of Events 
Screening 
Day 1 
T00 
Day 1 
T02-04 
Day 1 
T06 
Day 2-6 
T24-D6 
Day 7 or 
D/C* 
30 & 90 
day 
follow up 
Quarterly 
Informed consent (I/E) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medical History 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medication history 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clinical Assessment# 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
Body Weight, height, Vital 
Signs 
ED SOC 
VS only 
VS 
only 
VS 
only 
BW/VS 
only 
BW/VS 
only 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Labs: Electrolytes, 
hematology, NP, eGFR, 
Troponin 
ED SOC 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NT-proBNP / hsTroponin (for 
central lab processing) 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
12-lead ECG 
ED SOC 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CXR 
ED SOC 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LUS B-lines 8 zone 
X 
(LUS T00) 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
LUS Guided AHF 
Management or Usual Care 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
Lab draw: eGFR, Hgb/Hct^ 
 
X 
 
 
 
X* 
 
 
Prep and Storage of 
Samples 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
eCRF/data 
collection/verification 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 


22 
 
SOC = standard of care, ED = Emergency Department, I/E = inclusion, exclusion, CV = cardiovascular, LUS = lung 
ultrasound, BW = body weight, NP = natriuretic peptide ^if collected as part of standard of care, will use that result. The 
last collected result will be used if not drawn on or close to discharge *Day 7 or discharge, whichever comes first. #As 
documented by clinician during inpatient stay or per form for ED phase 
Further detail regarding timing of assessments: [NOTE: given clinical circumstances (i.e. left the ER for a test, discussion 
with consultant, etc) – the SITE PI has final discretion to continue to image a patient before or after the allotted window. 
This time MUST be recorded in the eCRF] 
o T00:  initial LUS scan (in ED for screening and eligibility) 
o T02: 2-4 hours after initial treatment (in ED) (+/- 30 minutes) 
o T06: 2-4 hours after T02 or pre-ED discharge, whichever comes first (+/- 60 minutes) 
o HD2: 24 hours after initial scan (Day 2) (+/- 6 hours) 
o HD3: 48 hours after initial scan (Day 3) (+/- 8 hours) 
o HD4: Day 4 (anytime during day) 
o HD5: Day 5 (anytime during day) 
o HD6: Day 6 (anytime during day) 
o HD7: Day 7 (anytime during day) 
* NTproBNP/hsTnT blood draw.  This should occur within 6 hours of randomization.  Ideally, the blood draw should 
occur as soon as possible after randomization, preferably within 3 hours. 
** For vital signs during hospitalization. The nearest vital signs to the LUS exam will be captured. 
^HD = Hospital day 
7.5 
CONCOMITANT MEDICATIONS 
All medications administered within 14 days prior to and during screening will be recorded in the case report form.   
Medications that are not specifically prohibited are permitted at the Investigator’s discretion. 
7.6 
PROHIBITED MEDICATIONS, TREATMENTS, AND PROCEDURES  
No medications, treatments, or procedures are prohibited unless specifically mentioned in the eligibility criteria.  Patient 
safety and well-being are paramount: Any treatment deemed necessary may be utilized at the investigators discretion 
should there be any concern for the patients health. 
8 
ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY 
Assessment of AE/SAE's 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Phone follow-up Vital Status 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Batch shipment of samples 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Subject payment 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
 


23 
 
In addition to standard safety monitoring by the sponsor, an independent DSMB will oversee patient safety in the 
trial.  The DSMB will meet as specified in its charter. 
8.1 
SPECIFICATION OF SAFETY PARAMETERS 
Mortality, re-hospitalization, and ED visits through 90 days will be assessed for safety as well as efficacy 
Hypotension, defined as a  SBP < 100mmHg, will be assessed as a safety endpoint.  SBP Decrease Safety Margin: Patients 
whose SBP decreases to < 100mmHg at any time (measurement must be repeated twice, 15 minutes apart, unless 
symptomatic) or who develop evidence of clinical hypotension (i.e. weakness, dizziness, faint, chest discomfort) despite 
a SBP > 100mmHg will be immediately assessed and treated as needed, and all further strategy of care interventions will 
be halted.  Patient safety and care is paramount and takes precedence over all other considerations.  The clinical team 
may halt the study at any time.  If there are any questions, the PI or designee will make the final decision.   
8.1.1 DEFINITION OF ADVERSE EVENTS (AE) 
The Investigator and study staff are responsible for detecting and recording AEs and SAEs during scheduled safety 
evaluations and whenever such information is brought to their attention. This section of the protocol provides 
definitions and detailed procedures to be followed. During each visit, the Investigator will question the patient about 
adverse events using an open question, taking care not to influence the patient’s answers, e.g. “Have you had any 
unusual symptoms or medical problems since the last visit?  If yes, please describe.” 
An AE is any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of an 
investigational (medicinal) product or other protocol-imposed intervention, regardless of attribution.  
This includes the following:  
• AEs not previously observed in the subject that emerge during the protocol-specified AE reporting period.  
• Complications that occur as a result of protocol-mandated interventions (e.g., invasive procedures such as cardiac 
catheterizations).  
• If applicable, AEs that occur prior to assignment of study treatment associated with medication washout, no treatment 
run-in, or other protocol-mandated intervention.  
• Preexisting medical conditions (other than the condition being studied) judged by the investigator to have worsened in 
severity or frequency or changed in character during the protocol-specified AE reporting period.  
• Abnormal laboratory values that fall into an abnormal range based upon the hospital’s laboratory standards, the 
abnormality was not preexisting prior to enrollment, and the abnormality leads to a new treatment within the AE time 
frame  
The AE and SAE reporting period extends to day 5 of hospitalization or discharge, whichever comes first, unless 
otherwise specified. 
8.1.2 DEFINITION OF SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS (SAE) 
An AE will be classified as an SAE if:  
• It results in death (i.e., the AE actually causes or leads to death).  
• It is life threatening (i.e., the AE, in the view of the investigator, places the subject at immediate risk of death. It does 
not include an AE that, had it occurred in a more severe form, might have caused death).  
• It requires or prolongs inpatient hospitalization.  
• It results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity (i.e., the AE results in substantial disruption of the subject’s 
ability to conduct normal life functions).  


24 
 
• It is considered a significant medical event by the investigator based on medical judgment (e.g., may jeopardize the 
subject or may require medical/surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed above).  
 
8.2 
CLASSIFICATION OF AN ADVERSE EVENT 
 
8.2.1 SEVERITY OF EVENT 
The severity of each adverse event must be recorded as 1 of the choices on the following scale: 
Mild 
 
No limitation of usual activities 
Moderate 
Some limitation of usual activities 
Severe  
Inability to carry out usual activities 
An AE that is assessed as severe should not be confused with a SAE. 
8.2.2 RELATIONSHIP TO STUDY AGENT 
Each reported AE will be described by its duration (i.e., start and end dates), regulatory seriousness criteria if applicable, 
and suspected relationship to study drug in accordance with definitions set forth at each IRB. In general, these 
relationships are categorized as likely, possible, unlikely and not related. Experience teaches that gray zone instances 
will arise, and the site coordinators and PIs will be trained to adjudicate possible SAEs in a systematic fashion. To ensure 
consistency of SAE causality assessments, investigators will apply the following general guideline:  
Yes - There is a plausible temporal relationship between the onset of the AE and administration of the study drug and 
the AE cannot be readily explained by the subject’s clinical state, inter-current illness, or concomitant therapies; and/or 
the AE follows a known pattern of response to study drug or the AE abates or resolves upon discontinuation of study 
drug;  
No - Evidence exists that the AE has an etiology other than the study drug (e.g., preexisting medical condition, 
underlying disease, inter-current illness, or concomitant medication); and/or the AE has no plausible temporal 
relationship to the study drug.  
Adjudication of each AE will proceed as follows: First, the coordinator will consult the site PI to review the chart. Next, 
the PI will contact members of the clinical care team to clarify uncertainty related to inadequate documentation. Third, 
if the PI is unable to decide for certain if an AE or SAE occurred, he or she will have the option of sending a personal 
health identifier-stripped, written narrative of the event to the other site PIs who will vote up or down as to whether the 
event constituted an AE or SAE.  
8.2.3 EXPECTEDNESS  
The following signs, symptoms, observations and events are frequently observed in association with acute heart failure: 
dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, chest pain, fever, hypoxemia, rapid pulse, rapid respiratory rate, 
dizziness, syncope, altered mental status, confusion, anxiety, generalized weakness, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, 
back pain, early satiety, vomiting, pneumonia, acute renal failure, skin infection, cancer, surgery not related to 
treatment of pulmonary embolism, electrocardiography abnormalities (atrial arrhythmias, ventricular dysrhythmias, 
right bundle branch block, and ST and T wave changes), elevated troponin level, elevated BNP or NT ProBNP level, high 
white blood cell count,  pulmonary infiltrate, pleural effusion, cardiomegaly, electrolyte imbalances, need for oxygen 
therapy, need for vasopressor support, need for blood product transfusion, need for mechanical ventilation (invasive or 
non-invasive), need for physical or occupational therapy, need for analgesia, need for skilled nursing facility upon 


25 
 
discharge, need for early follow up with physician, escalation of heart failure therapy, need for cardiac catheterization or 
PA line placement, need for sleep study.  
8.3 
TIME PERIOD AND FREQUENCY FOR EVENT ASSESSMENT AND FOLLOW-UP 
All AEs and SAEs will be followed through resolution, stabilization, or until the subject is lost-to-follow-up.  
The onset and end dates, duration, action taken regarding study drug, treatment administered, and outcome for each 
adverse event must be recorded on the CRF for randomized patients.  The relationship of each adverse event to study 
drug treatment and study procedures, and the severity and seriousness of each adverse event, as judged by the 
Investigator, must be recorded as described below. 
8.4 
REPORTING PROCEDURES 
8.4.1 ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING  
The study period during which AEs must be reported begins after informed consent is obtained and initiation of study 
treatment and for 7 days after ending study treatment. Subject’s hospital discharge summaries will be examined at 
hospital discharge and all non-exempt AEs will be investigated by examining necessary medical records.  
8.4.2 SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING  
All SAE’s will be reviewed within 48 hours and all AE’s within 7 days of discovery by the Study Monitor (also known as 
the medical monitor).  Any SAE discovery will be reported to the DCC who will then report to the DSMB, who will be 
unblinded.  If placebo treated patient, standard reporting to the IRB will occur.  If active treated patient, and deemed to 
be related to drug, the SAE will be reported to the DSMB chair within 7 business days by email, fax, or phone of any fatal 
or life-threatening adverse event that is unexpected.  
15 Calendar Day Written Report  
The Investigator will also be required to notify the IRBs and all participating investigators, in a written Safety Report, of 
any serious, unexpected AE that is considered reasonably or possibly related to the strategy-of-care arm  
72 hour reporting 
For the discovery of an unexpected serious adverse event thought to be related to study drug, the Investigator(s) will 
notify the Chair of the DSMB by email within 72 hours. 
 
8.5 
STUDY HALTING RULES  
Please see separate DSMB Charter 
8.6 
SAFETY OVERSIGHT 
Please see separate DSMB Charter 
9 
CLINICAL MONITORING 
Sites will be remotely monitored.  Should the need arise for further investigation, an independent monitor will be 
appointed to visit sites.  Each site has extensive clinical trial experience and the expectation for this need is low.  
Nevertheless, the PI will visit each site at least once per year for meeting with study staff and random surveillance. 
10 
STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS  


26 
 
10.1 
STATISTICAL AND ANALYTICAL PLANS 
Previous work demonstrates the value of B-lines to improve both diagnosis and prognosis in AHF.  Whether targeting B-
lines to guide therapy results in improved outcomes, is unknown.  Prior to examining outcomes however, a key step is 
required:  does LUS guided, protocol-driven treatment result in less B-lines than usual care?  In other words, can B-lines 
be actively targeted as a treatment endpoint? 
10.2 
STATISTICAL HYPOTHESES 
• 
Hypothesis 1: LUS guided patients will have less congestion, defined by LUS B-lines <15, than usual care patients 
at 6 hours after start of treatment.  Other measures of congestion, such as serial LUS during hospitalization, 
physical exam, NTproBNP, and hemoglobin/hematocrit levels will be assessed to determine the superiority or 
additive value of LUS. 
• 
Exploratory Hypothesis: Strategy-of-care patients will have more days alive and out of hospital (DAOOH) at 30 
days. 
o Strategy-of-care patients will have more days alive and out of hospital (DAOOH) at 90 days. 
 
• 
Hypothesis 2: Each site (n=4) will enroll ~2 patient per month for 18 months. 
10.3 
ANALYSIS DATASETS 
The Full Analysis Set (FAS) will include all randomized patients. In accordance with the intent-to-treat principle, patients 
will be analyzed by the group to which they were randomized. Misrandomized patients (patients randomized in error 
who did not receive any study intervention) will be excluded. Analyses in the FAS will constitute the main efficacy results 
for the primary and secondary study efficacy endpoints. 
The Per Protocol Set (PPS) will be a subset of the FAS and will exclude patients with major protocol violations.   The 
major protocol violations that will result in exclusion from the PPS will be identified prior to unblinding the treatment 
assignments for final analysis. Patients will be analyzed in the treatment group to which they were randomized. Results 
of analyses in this analysis population will support the primary efficacy analyses in the FAS. 
10.4 
DESCRIPTION OF STATISTICAL METHODS 
10.4.1 GENERAL APPROACH 
Unless stated otherwise, two-sided p values < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant, without regard to multiple 
comparisons. Statistical tables and listings and analyses will be produced using SAS release 9.1 or later (SAS Institute, 
Inc, Cary, NC, USA) or other validated statistical software. 
10.4.2  BASELINE DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS 
We will tabulate baseline characteristics of the two trial arms for potential imbalance in variables. Continuous variables 
will be summarized by typical parameters such as mean, standard deviation and range and compared using two-sample 
T test (if the normality assumption holds) or Wilcoxon rank-sum test (if the normality assumption does not hold). 
Normality of distribution will be determined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit test. Categorical data will be 
summarized by frequency and percentage and analyzed using the Chi-square or Fishers exact test, as appropriate. 
The use of prior and concomitant medications will be summarized.  The use and doses of IV and oral loop diuretics in 
furosemide equivalents will be summarized by treatment group.  Other concomitant medications will be coded using 
WHO Drug and summarized by treatment group according to Anatomic Therapeutic Classification and preferred term. 


27 
 
 
10.4.3 ANALYSIS OF THE PRIMARY EFFICACY ENDPOINT(S) 
The comparison of binary endpoints (B-lines < 15) will be performed using Chi-square or Fishers exact test, as 
appropriate. 
Potential covariates will also be considered in a logistic regression setting to improve precision, which includes baseline 
co-morbidities, baseline medications (in particular guideline recommended therapies) in-hospital medications, baseline 
renal function, serum sodium, natriuretic peptide levels, troponin levels, renal function, baseline blood pressure, and 
discharge medications. Variables such as physical exam, other vital signs, and hemoconcentration may also be included. 
For NT-proBNP, a percent change greater than 30% and its association with the primary endpoint will be analyzed.  This 
is based on previous work suggesting a 30% change was a key discriminatory threshold for mortality.88-90 For 
hemoconcentration, any increase in value in both hematocrit and hemoglobin during hospitalization will be considered 
positive.84 These covariates are known markers of risk and are standard of care assessments for the vast majority of AHF 
admissions. Covariates with univariately significant association with the outcome will be included together with the 
treatment indicator in a logistic regression model. Due to limited sample size, we will limit the number of covariates 
(including treatment indicator) such that there is 10 events per covariate.  
 
10.4.4 ANALYSIS OF THE EXPLORATORY ENDPOINT(S) 
DAOOH: Will be compared using T test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, as appropriate. 
If the distribution of 30 or 90 days DAOOH is skewed, the T test may not perform satisfactorily. An alternative approach 
to evaluate the robustness of the analysis, is to treat DAOOH as an ordinal outcome and use the proportional odds (PO) 
regression model to compare the two arms. The PO model is a generalization of the Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney) test to 
estimate the shift in the underlying distribution of DAOOH by the intervention. The PO regression allows for adjustment 
of baseline covariates to enhance power. 
We will examine the distribution of B-lines measurements for the groups with and without events separately. Both 
absolute number and relative change will be evaluated.  Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves will be plotted 
together with area under the curve (AUC) calculated to understand the prediction performance of the B-line 
measurements. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values will be computed at a number of 
thresholds of B-line measurements to understand the trade-off between false positive and false negative. Confidence 
intervals of statistical measures will be constructed using the bootstrap method.91 Although 15 B-lines have been 
previously identified as a valid threshold, an alternative number may be more useful in the ED setting.   
For reproducibility analysis, generalized linear mixed-effects models will be fitted to estimate the inter- and intra-
observer variability, where both patients and observers are treated as random effects. 
We will compare parameters used to identify congestion. This will include a comparison between B-lines measurements 
and other markers, such as physical exam, NTproBNP, eGFR, and hemoglobin/hematocrit. Bootstrap method will be 
used for the comparison to account for correlations between the markers and the B-line measurements. We will 
consider two strategies to explore potential multivariate models: 
1. Logistic regression models: We will consider three different models.  First, we include all markers together with 
B-line measurements in the model (Model 1). Second, we will explore all main effects models that can be built 
using the B-line measurements along with the other markers and select the one with the best  model fitting 
characteristic (e.g. Akaike Information Criterion or Bayesian Information Criterion) (Model 2).  Third, we will 
explore all main effects models that can be built using only the other markers (Model 3). These models will allow 
us to create a discriminating score for the prediction of 30 or 90-day outcomes. 


28 
 
2. Tree based nonparametric method:  We will employ the classification tree92 to build a nonparametric prediction 
model using B-lines measurements and the seven other markers. (Model 4). We will build a similar classification 
tree without the involvement of the B-lines measurements (Model 5). 
Models 1-5 will be evaluated using data from the testing set in terms of prediction accuracy. In particular, Models 2 and 
3, 4 and 5 will be compared (if there is a difference between models 2 and 3, and between 4 and 5) to understand the 
net reclassification rate.93,94 Statistical inference of the comparison will be performed using the bootstrap method. 
10.4.5 SAFETY ANALYSES 
Hypotensive events will be reported per treatment arm as well as other safety events ascertained during the study. 
Continuous variables will be summarized by typical parameters such as mean, standard deviation and range and 
compared using two-sample T test (if the normality assumption holds) or Wilcoxon rank-sum test (if the normality 
assumption does not hold). Normality of distribution will be determined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit 
test. Categorical data will be summarized by frequency and percentage and analyzed using the Chi-square or Fishers 
exact test, as appropriate. 
As all cause mortality and re-hospitalizations will already be reported as part of the efficacy exploratory analyses, these 
will also be highlighted as safety analyses. 
10.4.6 ADHERENCE AND RETENTION ANALYSES 
Missing data: We will compare relevant patient characteristics between those who stay in the study and those who drop 
out to examine whether there are characteristics that discriminate between the two groups. It is possible that the 
dropout mechanism does not depend on unobserved outcomes (Missing At Random, or MAR),95 where no bias will be 
introduced by ignoring the missing-data mechanism. We can simply use all observed outcomes for the analysis. Under 
circumstances where power loss is of concern, we will use a multiple imputation96 procedure to make use of all relevant 
observed variables to enhance power. The SAS procedure MI and MIANALYZE will be used for implementation of this 
procedure. 
In case the dropouts are Missing Not At Random (MNAR), which means the likelihood of drop-out depends on an un-
observed outcome, potential bias can be introduced if the miss-data mechanism is ignored. We will make various 
assumptions regarding the missing-data process. With these assumptions, we will fit proper models, either in the form 
of selection model 97, pattern mixture model 95, or latent variable model 98 to account for the missing-data process. A 
sensitivity analysis will be conducted to compare the results based on different assumptions and models and assess the 
robustness of the inference. 
10.4.7 PLANNED INTERIM ANALYSES  
• 
Per the DSMB charter, there is a single, formal interim analysis planned after 50% patients are accrued.  NO 
formal stopping rules have been established, given the small sample size.  Rather, the DSMB will issue recommendations on 
halting the trial early, only for safety reasons, based on the totality of data reviewed. 
 
10.5 
SAMPLE SIZE 
Our preliminary data suggest that 25% of patients in the usual care arm will have < 15 B lines at the conclusion of ED 
AHF management. With 59 patients in each of the two arms, we will have 81% power to detect an effect size of 2 (i.e. 
25% in the usual care versus 50% in the strategy care), where the type I error rate is controlled at 0.05 (two-sided). 
Considering a conservative 10% drop-out rate, we will need a total of 130 subjects. 
10.6 
MEASURES TO MINIMIZE BIAS 
10.6.1 ENROLLMENT/ RANDOMIZATION/ MASKING PROCEDURES 


29 
 
Each site will be provided a block randomization table with variable block sizes of  2, 4, and 6. The data coordinating 
center will continuously monitor the recruitment until the targeted sample size is reached. We will utilize the REDCap 
Randomization module for web-based randomization. 
Due the nature of the intervention and the clinical setting, this is an unblinded trial. 
11 
SOURCE DOCUMENTS AND ACCESS TO SOURCE DATA/DOCUMENTS 
The medical experts, study monitors, auditors, and health authority inspectors (or their agents) will be given direct 
access to source data and documentation (e.g., medical charts/records, laboratory test results, printouts, videotapes) for 
source data verification, provided that patient confidentiality is maintained in accordance with local requirements. 
Each Investigator must maintain, at all times, the primary records (i.e., source documents) of each patient’s data.  
Examples of source documents are hospital records, office visit records; examining physician’s finding or notes, 
consultant’s written opinion or notes, laboratory reports, drug inventory, study drug label records, and CRFs that are 
used as the source. 
Each Investigator will maintain a confidential patient identification list that allows the unambiguous identification of 
each patient.  All study-related documents must be kept for a minimum of 5 years.  A publically available dataset will be 
released per NIH guidelines. 
12 
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL 
Protocol Amendments: No changes from the final approved (signed) protocol will be initiated without the prior written 
approval or favorable opinion of a written amendment by the IEC/IRB, except when necessary to eliminate immediate 
safety concerns to the patients or when the change involves only logistics or administration.  Each Investigator will sign 
the protocol amendment.  
The IRB/EC may provide expedited review and approval/favorable opinion for minor change(s) in ongoing studies.  
Protocol Deviations, Violations, and Exceptions:  A protocol deviation is non-adherence to protocol-specific study 
procedures or schedules that does not involve inclusion/exclusion criteria, primary objective variable criteria, and/or 
GCP guidelines.  Deviations are considered minor and do not impact the study. 
A protocol violation is any significant divergence from the protocol, i.e., non-adherence on the part of the patient, the 
Investigator, or the sponsor to protocol-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria, primary objective variable criteria, and/or 
GCP guidelines.  Protocol violations will be identified and recorded, by study center personnel. 
No exceptions to protocol-specific entry criteria will be granted to allow patients to enter a study.   
Information to Study Personnel: Each Investigator is responsible for giving information about the study to all staff 
members involved in the study or in any element of patient management, both before starting the practical 
performance of the study and during the course of the study (e.g., when new staff become involved).  Each Investigator 
must assure that all study staff members are qualified by education, experience, and training to perform their specific 
responsibilities.  These study staff members must be listed on the study center authorization form, (if required) which 
includes a clear description of each staff member’s responsibilities.  This list must be updated throughout the study, as 
necessary. 
The study monitor is responsible for explaining the protocol to all study staff, including each Investigator, and for 
ensuring their compliance with the protocol.  Additional information will be made available during the study when new 
staff become involved in the study and as otherwise agreed upon with either the Investigator or the study monitor. 
The handling of data, including data quality assurance, will comply with regulatory guidelines (e.g., ICH and GCP) and the 
sponsor’s or its designee’s SOPs and working instructions.  Data management and control processes specific to this study 


30 
 
will be described in a data management plan.  When data management is outsourced, the contract organization will be 
responsible for the development and implementation of the data management plan.  
Data Quality Assurance: All data on the CRF will be entered into a validated database compliant with 21 CFR Part 11 
requirements.  In the case when data management is outsourced, the contract organization will be responsible for 
database quality assurance including, but not limited to, review of data entered into the CRFs by study center personnel 
for completeness and accuracy and instruction of the study personnel to make any required corrections. 
Data management at Indiana University will implement edit checks on the eCRF to enforce data integrity and 
compliance to the protocol and regulatory requirements.  Study center personnel will be responsible for entering study 
data on the eCRFs.  Data management will track eCRFs and review them for completeness, the presence of mandatory 
values, consistency, and dated electronic signatures.  Queries identified during data discrepancy review will be sent to 
the study center personnel to be reviewed and resolved in a timely manner. 
Adverse Events will be coded using the MedDRA dictionary.  Concomitant medications will be coded using the WHO 
Drug dictionary.  Adverse Events and Concomitant Medications will be reviewed for coding consistency and 
completeness.  
At the end of the study, the database will be locked and the data will be released for reporting and statistical analysis. 
13 
ETHICS/PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS  
13.1 
ETHICAL STANDARD  
The Investigator(s) will conduct the study in accordance with this protocol, the guiding principles of the Declaration of 
Helsinki, ICH GCP guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements.   
13.2 
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD  
Before this study starts, the protocol will be submitted to each IEC/IRB for review.  As required, the study will not start at 
a given center before the IEC/IRB for the center provides written approval or a favorable opinion. The IRB will meet all 
FDA requirements governing IRBs (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 56).  The IEC will meet local regulations. 
13.3 
INFORMED CONSENT PROCESS  
13.3.1 CONSENT/ASSENT AND OTHER INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENTS PROVIDED TO PARTICIPANTS 
Each patient must be provided with a statement that the investigation involves research and that the IRB/EC has 
approved solicitation of patients to participate; a fair explanation of the procedures to be followed and their purposes, 
including identification of any procedures which are experimental; a description in lay language of any possible side 
effects; a description of any attendant discomforts and risks reasonably to be expected; a description of any benefits 
reasonably to be expected; a disclosure of any appropriate alternative procedures that might be advantageous for the 
patient; an offer to answer any inquiries concerning the procedures, and instruction that the person is free to withdraw 
consent and discontinue participation in the project or activity at any time without prejudice to the patient.  The 
informed consent shall include a disclosure that the Investigator is being supported by the NIH to perform the stated 
research. 
13.3.2 CONSENT PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION 
A properly executed, written consent in compliance with current U.S. federal code 21CFR part 50, or competent 
regulatory authority, shall be obtained from each patient prior to entering the study or prior to performing any unusual 
or non-routine procedure involving risk to the patient.   


31 
 
A patient must give written consent to participate in the study.  This consent must be dated and retained by the 
Principal Investigator as part of the study records.  A copy shall be given to the patient.  The informed consent process 
must be documented in the patient’s source documents. 
Written and/or oral information about the study in a language understandable by the patient will be given to all 
patients. 
13.4 
PARTICIPANT AND DATA CONFIDENTIALITY  
Each Investigator must assure that the privacy and confidentiality of each study  patient’s personal identity and personal 
medical information is maintained at all times.  In order to maintain subject privacy and confidentiality, all CRFs, 
laboratory specimens, evaluation forms, reports, and other records, documents and image material that leave the site 
will be identified only by an identification code.  This identification code shall on no occasion include study subject’s 
names, initials or date of birth.  
Medical information release or review of the personal health data of study patients shall take place solely within 
regulated and approved circumstances, and only to third parties, specifically identified by the written informed consent 
document signed by the study patients, except as permitted by applicable laws and regulations for purposes of 
monitoring and data verification by the relevant regulatory authorities, the NIH and NIH’s properly authorized 
representatives, or other regulatory authorities.  Personal medical information will always be treated as confidential. 
14 
DATA HANDLING AND RECORD KEEPING  
14.1 
DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES  
Each Investigator must keep a separate patient identification list showing code numbers, names, and dates of birth to 
allow unambiguous identification of each patient included in the study.  A note will be made in the medical records that 
the patient is participating in a clinical study. 
All required data will be recorded on the CRF by study center personnel according to the data entry guidelines provided 
by the PI or designee.  All CRFs must be kept in good order and updated so they always reflect the latest observations on 
the patients participating in the study. 
When paper CRFs are used, they will be completed legibly in black ink, with reasons given for missing data.  Any 
corrections to the data will be made in a manner that does not obscure the original entry and will be dated and initialed 
by the Investigator or assigned designee.  Each Investigator will sign the statement on the last page of the CRF. 
When eCRFs are used, electronic signatures of the Investigator (or designee) will be provided.   
Access to the eCRF for data entry and signature is controlled by user identification and password, which are provided by 
the PI or designee.  Study center personnel will be trained, by the PI or designee, in the use of eCRFs and application of 
electronic signatures before the start of the study. 
Because it is extremely important to have proper data collection in a timely manner, the Investigator shall complete the 
CRFs and on an ongoing basis.  If a study monitor is needed and study monitor requests additional data or clarification of 
data for the CRF, the request must be answered satisfactorily in a timely manner before the next monitoring visit. 
14.2 
STUDY RECORDS RETENTION  
All records related to the study (i.e., source data, source documents, CRFs, copies of protocols and protocol 
amendments, correspondence, patient identification lists, signed informed consent forms, and other essential 
documents) must be retained for a minimum of 5 years. 
Should an Investigator wish to assign the study records to another party or move them to another location, advance 
written notice will be given to the PI and NIH. 


32 
 
The Investigator will maintain all study records according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH)-GCP and 
applicable regulatory requirements.  Records will be retained for two (2) years following the date a marketing 
application is approved for the indication pertaining to this clinical study; or, if the medication is planned to be 
terminated or if a Regulatory application is not planned to be progressed, until two (2) years after the investigation is 
discontinued and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or competent regulatory authority, is notified. 
14.3 
PROTOCOL DEVIATIONS  
A protocol deviation is non-adherence to protocol-specific study procedures or schedules that does not involve 
inclusion/exclusion criteria, primary objective variable criteria, and/or GCP guidelines.  Deviations are considered minor 
and do not impact the study. 
A protocol violation is any significant divergence from the protocol, i.e., non-adherence on the part of the patient, the 
Investigator, or the sponsor to protocol-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria, primary objective variable criteria, and/or 
GCP guidelines.  Protocol violations will be identified and recorded, by study center personnel. 
No exceptions to protocol-specific entry criteria will be granted to allow patients to enter a study.   
14.4 
PUBLICATION AND DATA SHARING POLICY 
RESOURCE SHARING PLAN 
This includes the following activities: 
 
Publicizing the study as it is initiated, to trial investigators and other interested researchers 
 
Identifying and supporting proposals, (funding sources, implementation, analyses) for feasible salient ancillary 
studies; 
 
Providing a fully anonymized data set for future analyses/studies by interested researchers, once the trial 
funding has ended. 
Each of these activities is discussed below.  
Publicizing the Study 
The key methods for publicizing the trial are: 
 
ClinicalTrials.gov – the government website that registers all initiated trials with trial protocol descriptions and 
contact information; 
 
The trial site PI's and involved leadership group 
 
Design and rationale paper will be submitted for publication 
 
A final manuscript will be submitted after conclusion of the study. 
Providing Access to Linked, Anonymized Data  
Once trial funding ends, two options will be: 
 
Provide the anonymized data set to NHLBI.  
 
Maintain the linked, anonymized data set via the IU Data Coordinating Center. 
Regardless of which option is implemented, information on availability of data will be accessible on ClinicalTrials.gov 
and will be linked to other appropriate sites, including Indiana University websites. 
PREPARATION OF THE ANONYMIZED, LIMITED ACCESS DATASET 


33 
 
To comply with NHLBI requirements for an adequately anonymized dataset, we propose the following activities for the 
data set: 
1. Subject identifiers: 
a. New random identification numbers without site identifiers will replace the original identification 
numbers, once data acquisition is complete. 
b. The key linking the original and new ID numbers will NOT be provided to users of the anonymized data 
set, nor to site investigators and staff. 
2. Variables that might lead to the identification of participants: 
a. Interviewer or technician identification numbers or codes will be recoded or deleted. 
b. Regional variables with little or no variation within a center because they could be used to identify the 
center will be deleted. 
c. Unedited, verbatim responses that are stored as text data (e.g., specified in “other” category) will be 
deleted. 
3. Dates: All dates will be coded relative to a specific reference point (e.g., date of randomization). This provides 
privacy protection for individuals known to be in a study who are known to have had some significant event 
(e.g., myocardial infarction) on a particular date. Birth and other milestone dates will also be recoded relative to 
a specific reference date. 
4. Variables with low frequencies for some values, that might be used to identify participants, may be recoded. 
These might include: 
a. Socioeconomic and demographic data (e.g., marital status, occupation, income, education, language, 
number of years married). 
b. Household and family composition (e.g., number in household, number of siblings or children, ages of 
children or step-children, number of brothers and sisters, relationships, spouse in study). 
c. Numbers of pregnancies, births, or multiple children within a birth. 
d. Anthropometry measures (e.g., height, weight, waist girth, hip girth, body mass index). 
e. Physical characteristics that are distinctive (e.g., blindness). 
f. Prior medical conditions with low frequency (e.g., group specific cancers into broader categories) and 
related questions such as age at diagnosis and current status. 
5. Race/ethnicity and gender information when very few subjects are in certain groups or cells. 
a. Polychotomous variables: values or groups will be collapsed so as to ensure a minimum number of 
subjects (e.g., at least 20) for each value within each race-gender cell. 
b. Continuous variables: distributions will be truncated if needed to ensure that a minimum number of 
subjects (e.g., at least 20) have the same highest and lowest values in each race-gender cell. 
c. Dichotomous variables: data should either be grouped with other related variables so as to ensure a 
minimum number of subjects (e.g., at least 20) in each race-gender cell or deleted. 
CLINICAL TRIALS.GOV 
This study will be registered at the appropriate and required time by the PI, in conjunction with the DCC, to the 
government-operated clinical trial registry data bank, which contains registration, results, and other information about 
registered clinical trials at ClinicalTrials.gov. Federal law under FDAAA requires clinical trial information for certain 


34 
 
clinical trials to be submitted to the data bank and this study will comply with all reporting requirements for clinical 
trials. 
15 
STUDY ADMINISTRATION 
15.1 
STUDY LEADERSHIP 
This study will be conducted at 3 sites in the United States, with 4 total hospitals.  Site 1) Indianapolis, IN at both the 
Eskenazi and Methodist hospitals (abbreviated as IU, Peter S. Pang, PI), Site 2) Nashville, TN at the University of 
Vanderbilt hospital (abbreviated as Vanderbilt, Sean P. Collins, PI), Site 3) Detroit, MI at the Detroit Receiving Hospital 
Center (abbreviated as DRC, Philip D. Levy.  Each site PI will be a member of the steering committee.  Dr. O’Connor at 
INOVA will serve as Chair of the Steering Committee. 
The following diagram illustrates the relationship between the DSMB and other entities in this study.   
 
 
 
Communication with DSMB members will be primarily through the NHLBI Program Office and the Data Coordinating 
Center (DCC) housed at IU.  The primary coordinator of data transfer between the research team and the DSMB will be 
the DCC working with the DSMB statistician, who will also be at IU (TBD).   It is expected that study investigators will not 
communicate with DSMB members about the study directly, except when making presentations or responding to 
questions at DSMB meetings or during conference calls.   The Steering Committee will be comprised of the Site PI and 
LUS PI at each site. 
 


35 
 
16 
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY 
All investigators must adhere to national, regional, and local conflict of interest policies.  Prior to publication, all 
disclosures potentially relevant to this trial will be explicitly stated. 
 
 
17  
ADDITIONAL TRAINING MATERIALS  
17.1 
LUNG ULTRASOUND TRAINING OVERVIEW 
 
 
 
Lung Ultrasound Training Overview 
 
Each clinical site already has expertise in LUS (lung ultrasound).  However, to minimize variation, a 
standardized teaching format will be utilized, emphasizing the 8 zone scoring system.  Videos perform better to 
explain LUS and B-lines than a word document or PDF. Videos will be utilized for training purposes, however, 
a document representation is listed below. 
Why use lung ultrasound?  For all of the following reasons: 
a. It is fast 
b. No radiation 
c. Non invasive 
d. Repeatable 
 
Ultrasound has been used at the bedside for years. Machines continue to get smaller and smaller and easier to 
move around. 
What is the difference between focused ultrasound and formal echocardiography or radiology studies?  
Focused ultrasound does not replace formal echocardiography or formal radiology studies. It is meant to 
answer a binary clinical question.  For the purpose of our study, it is meant to guide AHF management.  [The 
figure below with red arrows shows examples of B-lines] 
 


36 
 
 
 
Lung (or pulmonary ultrasound) is one of the easiest 
ultrasound assessments to learn and perform. Even in 
patients with a high BMI, the lung can be evaluated. 
Additionally, lung ultrasound has high inter-rater 
agreement. 
 
In this figure to the left, we are seeing B lines – vertical 
echogenic artifacts originating from the pleural line, 
extending to the bottom of the ultrasound screen and 
moving with lung sliding. In AHF patients, B-line 
assessment aids in diagnosis, prognosis and may guide 
acute management.  
 
 
 
Below is the curvilinear probe used for the images.  
 
 
 
 
 


37 
 
Below is a pictorial representation of the 8-zone scoring system. 
 
 
The eight zone protocol breaks each hemi-thorax into 4 zones, divided by the parasternal (PS) Line, Ant 
axillary line (AAL), posterior axillary line (PAL) and anatomic nipple line (ANL). In the clinical setting of 
suspected AHF, pulmonary edema is determined sonographically as greater than three B-lines in a rib space in 
at least two lung zones bilaterally.  For scoring purposes, a B line cut off of 10 has been described previously 
in the literature. This allows for a more precise quantification of pulmonary edema. B lines will be counted as 
the number seen per acoustic window.    
Machine settings 
• 
Enter patient data 
• 
Select curvilinear probe 
• 
Select thorax exam 
• 
Set depth to 18 cm 
• 
Set clip length to 6 seconds 
• 
Turn off tissue harmonics and multi-beam former 
• 
Adjust gain so that the rib shadow is black and pleural line is distinct 
 


38 
 
 
Image acquisition 
• 
Patient supine 
• 
45 degrees of bed elevation (as possible, if not possible please note on CRF) 
 
 
 
• 
Starting off on the Right in Zone 1: you want the indicator towards the patient’s head. Identify ribs by 
shadowing and identify a rib space (see image below) 
• 
Label R1 
• 
Then turn 90 degrees with indicator towards patient’s right so you are still in a rib space but the probe 
is HORIZONTAL 
• 
Scan within the zone until you see the area of most B lines 
• 
Record 6 second clip (this should include both inspiration and expiration) 
• 
Repeat the above for Right zones 2-4 and Left zones 1-4 
• 
Obtain VERTICAL R4 and L4 zones 
• 
10 TOTAL videos 
• 
After you leave the bedside, record the number of B lines on a standardized data collection form or in 
REDCap 
 
 
 
 


39 
 
COUNTING B LINES 
 
 
 
• 
B lines are vertical echogenic artifacts that originate from the pleural line and extend to the bottom of 
the ultrasound screen 
• 
Below image is an example of how to count individual B lines 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


40 
 
• 
In the situation where the whole footprint is ‘white out’ (see below image) count as 20 B lines 
• 
The maximum number of B lines per sector is 20 
• 
Count the maximum number of B lines you see 
• 
If half of the footprint is a ‘white out’ count as 10 B lines 
• 
Estimate percentage of white out 
• 
Count up and down from there 
 
 
 
 
PLEURAL EFFUSION 
• 
Document pleural effusion as yes or no 
• 
Note the size (small, medium or large) 
• 
If pleural effusion and no lung is seen in the zone = 0 B lines 
• 
If pleural effusion and lung is seen = count number of B lines seen in lung 
 
 
 
For lung ultrasound we rely on the imaging of artifacts to interpret our scans.  The main artifact in the lung we 
see is called reverberation artifact.  The physics behind this artifact is briefly explained below.  
The ultrasound probe is constantly sending ultrasound waves towards whatever tissue is being imaged. When 
these sound waves get caught between 2 parallel surfaces that are highly reflective, they can bounce around 
between these highly reflective surfaces and take longer to return to the ultrasound machine.  
When this happens, you can have an echo that returns to the transducer after a single reflection and this echo 
will be displayed on the machine in the proper location. Sequential echoes may take longer to return to the 


41 
 
transducer, and due to this increase in time the machine thinks that it is from a surface further away so it will 
appear deeper on the ultrasound image. So what you end up seeing are bright arcs that occur at equidistant 
intervals. 
Below are examples of normal lung, Bat sign, and A lines.   
Pleural line and recurrent A lines or reverberation artifact. We see this in normal lung and patients with COPD. 
 
 


42 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


43 
 
The figure below shows B lines. These are vertical echogenic artifacts that originate from the pleural line, 
extend to the bottom of the ultrasound screen. 
Normal patients have < 3 B lines per rib space 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


44 
 
B lines may be seen outside of AHF.  Clinical context is crucial!  The table below shows other reasons why B 
lines may be present. 
FOCAL 
DIFFUSE 
Infarct 
Pulmonary Edema 
Contusion 
ARDS 
Cancer 
Pulmonary Fibrosis 
Pneumonia/Pneumonitis 
 


45 
 
Beware if you do NOT see A lines!  Below are coalesced B lines.  So many B-lines blend together, it could look 
like normal lung but you note no A lines.  (This appears better in video).  This is, in fact, diffuse B lines.
 
 
17.2 
ULTRASOUND SECURE TRANSFER PROTOCOL 
We have previously utilized BOX, an online cloud storage and collaborative environment.  Under the strict supervision of 
Indiana University data stewards, we continue to utilize BOX HEALTH. Such accounts can only be set up via application to 
the IU data stewards for storage of critical health data.  Access to these secure storage sites are then shared with vetted 
users.  Two dedicated BOX HEALTH accounts will be set up for BLUSHED AHF. 
All sites currently use Q Path, a vendor based Ultrasound storage system. All sites plus the Core Lab use Q Path in their 
day to day storage and review of US images.  Images are securely transferred via wireless transmission from US 
machines to Q Path with PHI.   All images are stored securely under HIPAA grade security systems.  From Q Path, images 
are then exported to individual computers.  During this transfer, PHI is NOT transferred.   The only identifying cues left 
are date/time stamp, which may also be removed.  Additional, non-identifiable labels will be added for study purposes.  
These will then be uploaded into BOX HEALTH.   


46 
 
Two BOX HEALTH folders will be created, one for the investigators and the other for the Core Lab.  Prior to uploading to 
the Core Lab, the images will be de-identified to site by the database manager.  Furthermore, the images will be 
scrambled to avoid interpretation by acquisition order. This further minimizes bias by forbidding site knowledge and 
order of acquisition.  The de-identified images (both by site and PHI) will then be uploaded to the Core Lab BOX HEALTH 
storage folder for review by the Core Lab.     
All interpretations by the Core Lab will be entered into REDCap. 
 
17.3 
CORE LAB PROCEDURE AND LUNG ULTRASOUND PROTOCOL 
Introduction 
The B-lines Lung Ultrasound Guided ED Management of Acute Heart Failure (BLUSHED-AHF) – is designed to assess the 
short-term effectiveness of early LUS guided, protocolized, ED AHF management compared to usual care.  ED patients 
with AHF, who meet all other eligibility criteria, will be randomized within 3 hours of presentation.  To achieve this goal, 
a randomized, controlled, multi-site, strategy-of-care, pilot trial is proposed. 
The correlation between B-lines on lung ultrasound and AHF has been well-established. B-lines are an assessment of 
extra vascular lung water (EVLW).  Past studies demonstrate correlation of B-line artifacts with the following: (1) 
natiuretic peptide levels, (2) invasive hemodynamics, (3) chest xray, (4) clinical assessments, and (5) computed 
tomography.1-5  Moreover, B-lines may resolve after treatment.6 Lung ultrasound has an additional advantage: it 
measures patient’s clinical status in real time. Finally, lung ultrasound is easily reproducible and does not carry any 
radiation exposure risk; thus, it can be repeated at regular intervals without increased risk to the patient. 
Lung Ultrasound (LUS) Protocol  
To best determine the potential value of EVLW measurements using LUS, we will assess patients at multiple timepoints 
throughout hopsitalization.  (See Figure 1 – Trial design flow below) 
 


47 
 
 
For diagnostic purposes, previously published protocols have been the most 
well-studied.  
Each LUS scan consists of 8 sectors as seen in figure 2. (Figure reproduced from 
Volpicelli et.al.7) Trained research personnel will record and count B-lines in 
each sector as visualized through one respiratory cycle at each of the time 
points listed in the Figure.  At minimum, each stored video clip will be 6 seconds 
in length. The total number of B-lines for all 8 sectors will comprise the overall 
score. With training, the entire scan takes less than 10 minutes. 
As patient positioning may impact B-lines, patients will be placed at 
approximately 45 degrees for all scanning.  The CRF will be marked if 
patients are unable to lie at this angle. 
 
• 
An 8 zone LUS scan will be done at the following times: 
o T00:  initial LUS scan (in ED for screening and eligibility) 
o T02: 2-4 hours after initial treatment (in ED) (+/- 30 minutes) 
o T06: 2-4 hours after T02 or pre-ED discharge, whichever comes first (+/- 60 minutes) 
o HD2: 24 hours after initial scan (Day 2) (+/- 6 hours) 
o HD3: 48 hours after initial scan (Day 3) (+/- 8 hours) 
o HD4: Day 4 (anytime during day) 
o HD5: Day 5 (anytime during day) 
o HD6: Day 6 (anytime during day) 
o HD7: Day 7 (anytime during day) 
• 
If standard care arm do NOT notify the provider of the results 
 
 
Data Collection Form 
• 
B lines 
• 
Pleural effusion size and location 
• 
Who is performing the scan 
• 
Document time to perform scan 
o Begin with time stamp of first image and end with time stamp of last image +6s 
 
Training 
• 
Fill out pre-survey 
• 
Watch training video on LUS and scanning protocol (15-20 minutes) 
• 
Review 23 clips together with US director (20 minutes) 
• 
Hands-on scanning (30 minutes) 
Fi
2


48 
 
• 
Perform 25 clips that have been reviewed by US director and signed off on prior to enrolling a patient 
(>75% of clips have B lines) 
• 
20% clips are reviewed by LUS Core Lab (Vicki) 
• 
Correlation coefficient 
 
 
Materials 
Each site will have an ultrasound machine capable of performing video image recording as well as a low frequency 
curivilinear or abdominal (2-5MHz) probe. B-lines are US artifacts and machine software may attempt to ‘clean up’ 
images, thereby minimizing the appearance of B-lines  Therefore, machine settings at each site will be optimized for B-
line visulization.  To ensure consistency, the same machine with the same settings will be used for serial exams.  
To the extent possible, it is preferable that sites use the same machine to facilitate standardization.  For example, if the 
emergency department has a Sonosite Micromaxx or later model, we can standardize the protocol so that the depth is 
set at 18 cm, the probe is the 2-MHz abdominal probe and the setting is the abdominal preset.  For sites that do not 
have the same equipment, a standard scanning protocol will be established for each specific machine, with the following 
requirements: 
1) A low frequency curvilinear probe will be used for all image acquisition (2-5MHz) 
2) The depth will be set to 18cm 
3) The gain settings will be standardized for all scans at each specific site.  If equipment is the same, the gain will be 
standardized. 
Training 
All physicians and research staff will undergo in-person training sessions led by the US PI at each site using a standard 
protocol. Both didactics and proctored bedside scans will occur.  This will ensure technique and equipment settings are 
standardized.  Published literature provides strong evidence that LUS can be learned with minimal training: as little as 30 
minutes yields excellent correlation with expert sonographers.40,48 In addition, established protocols will be utilized for 
transfer and storage of images.  


49 
 
To ensure ongoing quality assurance, feedback will be provided to each site for every 10 patients, or more frequently as 
needed if initial review suggests inconsistency.  An independent, blinded, expert ultrasonographer will review the 
images.  Concordance with clinical site interpretations will be provided.  Additional training will be provided by the 
central reviewer as needed. Inter-
rater agreement on B-line counts 
will be reported at the end of the 
study.   
The CORE lab is led by Vicki Noble 
MD: she is an internationally 
recognized expert in LUS.  She has 
a proven record of training, both 
for research and clinical purposes. 
She has substantial experience in 
the collation, interpretation, and 
reporting of LUS images. 
Counting of B-lines: (Figures 
courtesy of Luna Gargani MD) 
B lines will be counted as the 
number seen per acoustic 
windown.   See Figure 3. 
In the situation where there is 
‘white out’ or diffuse B lines in a rib 
space, this will be counted as 10 B-
lines.  Half the rib space will be 5. 10 will be the maxinum number of B lines per sector. 
Image Review 
All images will be saved as 6-second video clips.  Investigators or study staff will label each clip at the time of scan post-
enrollment. For example, Scan 0 is at time of enrollment.  Scan 24 is is 24 hours post-enrollment, Scan 72 is 72 hours 
post enrollment.  All images will also be date/time stamped, which will be recorded in the local site CRF.  Investigators or 
study staff will fill out a table of their count of B-lines, which will be compared to the Core Lab review.  If a rib space is 
completely whited out with B-lines, this will count as 10 B-lines, half the rib space will count as 5. Importantly, the Core 
Lab will be blinded to the investigator B-line count.   
No PHI will be recorded, only a study ID.  Each site will separately and securely store linkages from PHI to the study ID 
per local IRB approved protocols.  Currently, all sites have internal processes to store images for quality control as part 
of their training programs for fellows and residents.  Images will then be transferred to a secure, password protected, 
access limited server with HIPAA grade security.   
Local sites will review images to ensure deidentification.  Once de-identified, images will be uploaded to a secure, local 
server with HIPAA grade security. No post-processing will occur.  However, prior to upload to the Core Lab, images will 
be deliberately mixed with other study patients. This is being done to avoid readers from having ‘before and after’ 
images.  Images will be then uploaded in batches of 5 patients to a secure, HIPAA grade server. 
The Core Lab will then download the images.  Importantly, the Core Lab will NOT be a study site to minimize any 
potential bias or failures of de-identification.    Furthermore, the Core Lab will not have access to any clinical information 
on the patient, further limiting the potential for clinical information to bias image interpretation. To minimize the 
potential bias of having a single sites images reviewed, images from one site will be mixed with other sites upon arrival 
at the Core Lab. Reviewers will not see images of patients in chronological order or from only one site at a time.   


50 
 
Formal interpretations will be recorded on a standardized, secure CRF accessible only to the Core Lab and the Data 
Coordinating Center at IU.  All investigators will NOT have access to this data until database lock.  Applicable back up and 
secondary storage will occur on a daily basis


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