Can a quick heart scan save sepsis patients from organ failure?

NCT ID NCT04580888

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study looked at whether doing an early heart ultrasound (echocardiography) in the emergency department helps doctors manage sepsis or septic shock better. 312 adults with sepsis were randomly assigned to either get the ultrasound plus a treatment guide, or standard care. The goal was to see if the ultrasound approach reduced organ failure over 24 hours.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

early transthoracic echocardiography (a heart ultrasound procedure)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that using early heart ultrasound helps doctors make better treatment decisions for sepsis patients, potentially reducing organ damage.

What could go wrong

This is a completed study, but its findings may not change standard practice if the intervention did not significantly improve outcomes. The results are specific to emergency department settings and may not apply elsewhere.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Emergencies infectious disease with sepsis multiple organ dysfunction syndrome Sepsis Toxemia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CH d'Albi

    Albi, 81000, France

  • CH d'Eaubonne - Montmorency

    Eaubonne, 95600, France

  • Grenoble university hospital

    La Tronche, 38700, France

  • Hospices civils de Lyon

    Lyon, 69003, France

  • La réunion university hospital

    Saint-Pierre, 97410, France

  • Limgoes university hospital

    Limoges, 87042, France

  • Nantes university hospital

    Nantes, 44093, France

  • Nice university hospital

    Nice, 06600, France

  • Poitiers university hospital

    Poitiers, 86000, France

  • Toulouse university hospital

    Toulouse, 31059, France