Optimizing Preeclampsia Postpartum With Point-of-care Ultrasound
United States96 participantsStarted 2026-06-15
Plain-language 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.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
Historical cohort (group 1):
* Age greater than or equal to 18 years at the time of delivery
* Diagnosis of preeclampsia (without severe features, with severe features, HELLP syndrome, eclampsia) during pregnancy
* Gestational age greater than or equal to 20 weeks' gestation at delivery
* Delivery at the study institution within the 18-month period prior to implementation of the study's POCUS intervention
* Available and complete postpartum clinical data on: Daily blood pressure, diuretic or antihypertensive use, length of postpartum hospital stay, readmission within 30 days of primary hospitalization
Prospective cohorts (groups 2 and 3):
* Age greater than or equal to 18 years at the time of enrollment
* Diagnosis of preeclampsia (without severe features, with severe features, HELLP syndrome, eclampsia) made up until 24 hours postpartum Postpartum and within 24 hours of delivery
Exclusion Criteria:
Historical cohort (group 1):
* Delivery at an outside facility or incomplete postpartum records available for analysis
* Pre-existing diagnosis of chronic hypertension; selected to mirror prospective cohort exclusion criteria (see below).
* Documentation of chronic kidney disease (CKD stage 3 or higher); selected because diuresis is more likely to be avoided in this patient population even in the presence of physical exam findings suggesting volume overload.
* Documentation of postpartum complications unrelated to preeclampsia that may significantly alte…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Proportion of subjects with persistent hypertension at time of postpartum hospital discharge
Timeframe: From study enrollment through completion of study participation, an average of 7 days or less
2
Average days to resolution of hypertension
Timeframe: From study enrollment through completion of study participation, an average of 7 days or less