Optimizing Preeclampsia Postpartum With Point-of-care Ultrasound

Summary

This study explores a novel approach to improving care for postpartum patients with preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related condition characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and organ dysfunction. Preeclampsia affects up to 9% of pregnancies and can progress to include complications of seizures, stroke, and even death. Over 60% of patients with preeclampsia continue to experience high blood pressure at the time of discharge from their delivery hospitalization, and many of these patients require blood pressure medications for up to 6 months postpartum. Even with blood pressure medications, many of these patients are readmitted to the hospital within six weeks of delivery. In this study, the investigators will utilize point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), a quick and non-invasive, bedside imaging strategy, to look for signs of excess fluid accumulating in the lungs and venous system of postpartum patients with preeclampsia. Because excess fluid has the potential to worsen blood pressure, subjects with evidence of this on POCUS would be treated with a diuretic medication called furosemide (either orally or intravenously) within 24 hours of delivery. The investigators' main goal is to determine whether using POCUS can help physicians make better treatment decisions and improve short-term outcomes for postpartum patients with preeclampsia. The investigators' aim to achieve faster recovery of blood pressure, reduce the need for blood pressure medication at hospital discharge, and lower the rates of hospital readmission for those with preeclampsia. This study could significantly enhance the overall care and health of postpartum patients.

Timeline

Start

2026-06-15

Primary completion

2028-06-15

Completion

2028-06-15

Publications

• Background Ambrozic J, Brzan Simenc G, Prokselj K, Tul N, Cvijic M, Lucovnik M. Lung and cardiac ultrasound for hemodynamic monitoring of patients with severe pre-eclampsia. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Jan;49(1):104-109. doi: 10.1002/uog.17331. Epub 2016 Dec 1.
• Background Parra E, Brackney K, Piersall L, et al. (2025, January 26 - February 1). (1024) Comparing inferior vena cava collapsibility in postpartum patients with and without severe preeclampsia. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 2025 Pregnancy Meeting, Denver, CO, United States.
• Background Gevaerd Martins J, Saad A, Saade G, Pacheco LD. The role of point-of-care ultrasound to monitor response of fluid replacement therapy in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Dec;231(6):563-573. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.06.039. Epub 2024 Jul 3.
• Background Chong Y, Yu Y, Zhao Y, Zhang Y. Value of inferior vena cava diameter and inferior vena cava collapse index in the evaluation of peripartum volume: A prospective cohort study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2023 Jun;285:69-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.03.045. Epub 2023 Apr 11.
• Background Lopes Perdigao J, Lewey J, Hirshberg A, Koelper N, Srinivas SK, Elovitz MA, Levine LD. Furosemide for Accelerated Recovery of Blood Pressure Postpartum in women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Hypertension. 2021 May 5;77(5):1517-1524. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16133. Epub 2021 Feb 8.
• Background Ascarelli MH, Johnson V, McCreary H, Cushman J, May WL, Martin JN Jr. Postpartum preeclampsia management with furosemide: a randomized clinical trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Jan;105(1):29-33. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000148270.53433.66.
• Background Balhotra K, Roach C, Al-Kouatly HB, Minkoff H, McLaren RA Jr. Association of antihypertensive medication at discharge with readmission for postpartum preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Jun;228(6):747-748.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.01.020. Epub 2023 Jan 27. No abstract available.
• Background Stevens W, Shih T, Incerti D, Ton TGN, Lee HC, Peneva D, Macones GA, Sibai BM, Jena AB. Short-term costs of preeclampsia to the United States health care system. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Sep;217(3):237-248.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.04.032. Epub 2017 Jul 11.
• Background Ditisheim A, Wuerzner G, Ponte B, Vial Y, Irion O, Burnier M, Boulvain M, Pechere-Bertschi A. Prevalence of Hypertensive Phenotypes After Preeclampsia: A Prospective Cohort Study. Hypertension. 2018 Jan;71(1):103-109. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.09799. Epub 2017 Nov 13.
• Background Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 222. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Jun;135(6):e237-e260. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003891.

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