Artificial Intelligence or Human Hand? Evaluating Inferior Vena Cava Imaging for Hydration Status
Artificial Intelligence or Human Hand? A Pilot Study Evaluating Inferior Vena Cava Imaging for Hydration Status - The THAP2 Study
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
50 participants
Feb 2, 2026
OBSERVATIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This observational pilot project is to compare AI-guided sonographic IVC measurements with those of human operators (experienced sonographer, beginner sonographer) in two commonly used views (Subcostal (SC)), Right Intercostal (RI)) in healthy, euvolemic participants before and after PLR, which mimics hypervolemia, in order to assess the possible role of AI-guided sonographic IVC measurements by assessing its feasibility and reliability. Each participant will undergo a SC and a RI IVC US assessment before and after PLR by both sonographers, resulting in a total of 8 IVC US examinations with 8 additional AI-guided IVC indices assessments.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria1
- Healthy adults aged 18 years or older, 50% biological women
Exclusion Criteria20
- Pregnant or lactating women
- History of thrombosis of the inferior vena cava
- Major cardiovascular event in the last 3 months
- History of peripheral arterial disease of the legs
- History of heart failure of any grade
- History of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter
- History of severe valvular disease
- History of renal failure
- History of liver cirrhosis
- History of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema
- History of diabetes mellitus
- History of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) disturbance
- Abdominal surgery within the last 3 month
- Volume loss (diarrhoea, vomiting, or bleeding) within the past 3 days
- Respiratory distress of any grade
- Any diuretic therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Inability to follow procedures or insufficient proficiency in the study language
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Vital signs outside normal limits: tachycardia \>100 bpm, systolic blood pressure \<85 mmHg, or SpO2 \< 92%
- Employees or colleagues in a direct supervisory, subordinate, or collaborative relationship with the study team
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Interventions
IVC US assessment consists of two parts, repeated for both SC and RI views. The IVC is visualized according to either SC or RI view. A video capturing two complete respiratory cycles is recorded in B-mode and stored. Subsequently, the "Smart IVC" preset is selected, and an AI-guided measurement is obtained at the same anatomical point under identical conditions. For each examination, the sonographer places the probe to obtain an optimal assessment point for both human- and AI-guided measurements. The time from examination start to achieving a satisfactory imaging window for both SC view and RI view in the supine position is recorded using a stopwatch.
The participant's legs are elevated to 45° while the upper body remains horizontal (0°). After 2 minutes, the sonographer performs the US assessment following the same protocol as in Part 1. For each examination, the sonographer places the probe to obtain an optimal assessment point for both human- and AI-guided measurements. The time from examination start to achieving a satisfactory imaging window for both SC view and RI view in the supine position is recorded using a stopwatch.
Locations(1)
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NCT07419048