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

NCT ID NCT04580888

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University Hospital, Limoges Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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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.

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY EMERGENCIES ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME SEPSIS SEPSIS

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

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