IVC Window Agreement Study

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is widely used in emergency and critical care settings for noninvasive assessment of intravascular volume status. The subcostal (SC) window is the standard approach; however, it is frequently limited by obesity, bowel distension, or postoperative anatomical changes. In such cases, the right coronal (RC) and anterior transhepatic (aTH) windows have been proposed as alternatives.

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Key information

Conditions

Emergency Care POCUS Venous Hemodynamics Volume Assessment

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

The existing literature presents conflicting results regarding the interchangeability of these windows. Several studies report significant discrepancies between SC and RC measurements, while others demonstrate strong agreement. Direct comparison of the SC and aTH windows has received considerably less attention, with only a single prospective study to date reporting reliable agreement between these approaches under standardized imaging criteria.

Methodological heterogeneity, most likely arising from an unstandardized imaging technique, underlies much of the observed discordance. As a result, clinicians lack clear guidance on whether alternative windows can reliably substitute for the SC approach across diverse clinical settings.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Adult patients (≥18 years) requiring ultrasonographic assessment of intravascular volume status will be consecutively enrolled.

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy, refusal to participate, and inability to obtain any IVC image via the SC approach.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

The intermethod agreement of IVC diameter and collapsibility index measurements

Time frame: 90 days

The intermethod agreement of IVC diameter and collapsibility index measurements obtained from the subcostal (SC), anterior transhepatic (aTH), and right coronal (RC) ultrasonographic windows under a standardized imaging protocol, and to determine whether aTH and RC windows can serve as reliable alternatives to the SC approach across diverse clinical settings and operator profiles.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Gazi University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Are Subcostal, Transhepatic, and Coronal Windows Interchangeable for IVC Ultrasonography? A Multicenter Prospective Agreement Study

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jun 30, 2026
Registry last updated: Jun 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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