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Venous congestion is common in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). We used a pocket-sized ultrasound imaging device (PID) to assess the patients' congestive status and related our findings to prognosis.

One hundred four consecutive outpatients from an HF outpatient clinic were studied. Interstitial lung water (ILW), pleural effusion (PE), and the diameter of the inferior vena cava (VCI) were assessed with the use of a PID. ILW was assessed by demonstration of B-lines (comet tail artifact (CTA). Out of the 104 patients, 28 had CTA and 8 had PE. Median VCI diameter was 18 mm (interquartile range 14–22 mm). Each of these parameters correlated weakly (r = 0.26–0.37; P < .05) with the HF biomarker N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). During the median follow-up time of 530 days, 18 hospitalizations and 14 deaths were registered. Findings of CTA, PE, or …