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PACCSEarly Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment for Cardiogenic Shock in Acute Heart Failure

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Study Aim

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early invasive hemodynamic assessment as a treatment approach for cardiogenic shock in individuals with acute heart failure, focusing on the number of participants who survive until hospital discharge.

What is being tested

Pulmonary Artery Catheter

Device
Who is being recruted

Cardiovascular Diseases+10

+ Heart Diseases

+ Heart Failure

From 18 to 90 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Interventional
Study Start: August 2022
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorTufts Medical Center
Study ContactKarol WalecMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: August 23, 2022

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The PACCS trial focuses on individuals experiencing cardiogenic shock due to acutely decompensated heart failure (AHDF-CS). This condition occurs when the heart suddenly cannot pump enough blood, leading to shock. The main goal of this study is to find out if early use of a Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC) for hemodynamic assessment and ongoing management can lower the risk of death during hospital stay, compared to delayed or no use of PAC-guided assessment. The study is important as it aims to improve care for patients with AHDF-CS, potentially reducing in-hospital mortality rates. In this trial, participants are randomly divided into two groups. One group receives early invasive hemodynamic assessment using a PAC within 6 hours of randomization, while the other group receives clinical management with delayed (beyond 48 hours after randomization) or no PAC-guided assessment. The study measures its results by tracking the number of participants who die in the hospital. The trial uses an adaptive design, meaning an interim analysis is performed when the primary endpoint is available for 200 participants, which may lead to an increase in the target sample size between 400 and 800 participants.

Official TitleThe Pulmonary Artery Catheter in Cardiogenic Shock Trial
NCT05485376
Principal SponsorTufts Medical Center
Study ContactKarol WalecMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

400 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 18 to 90 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Cardiovascular DiseasesHeart DiseasesHeart FailureInfarctionIschemiaMyocardial InfarctionNecrosisPathologic ProcessesShockShock, CardiogenicPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsVascular DiseasesMyocardial Ischemia

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥18 years and ≤90 years 2. Clinical heart failure presentation and left ventricular function as follows: Either 2A or 2B must be present A. Subject has de novo acute decompensated heart failure and shock with an LVEF ≤40% OR B. Subject has acute on chronic heart failure with a documented history of a LVEF ≤40% within 6 months of admission and a current LVEF ≤40% within 24 hours of screening during the current hospitalization. NOTE: The LVEF must be quantitatively measured as ≤ 40% by an echocardiogram within 24 hours of screening. If multiple echocardiograms have been performed within 24 hours, the most recent test must be used to qualify the patient. 3. Cardiogenic Shock (CS) defined by a lactate level ≥ 2.1 mmol/L and any 2 of the following parameters within 24 hours of screening: 1. SBP \<90 mmHg for more than 30 minutes from baseline SBP 2. Requires the use of at least 1 vasopressor or inotrope 3. Requires intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support 4. Presence of congestion on exam: JVP elevated, pulmonary edema on CXR or exam, dyspnea at rest, orthopnea, bendopnea, or worsening peripheral or abdominal swelling 4. Initial diagnosis of CS within 24 hours of screening at the enrolling site 5. Patient or legally authorized representative provides informed consent A HIPAA waiver for screening is requested to identify potential subjects. No recruitment materials will be given to potential subjects. No identifiable data will be retained for subjects that are determined to be ineligible Exclusion Criteria: 1. Primary etiology of shock other than systolic left heart failure including but not limited to: acute myocardial infarction, sepsis, hypovolemia, hemorrhage, severe anemia, primary RV failure, pulmonary embolism, or tamponade. 2. Patient has a durable ventricular assist device or temporary mechanical circulatory support (other than IABP) or PAC prior to enrollment 3. Actively listed for cardiac transplantation (Status 7 patients are eligible for the trial) 4. Patient transferred from another facility with a diagnosis of cardiogenic shock 5. Any known co-morbidity other than heart failure with anticipated survival \< 6 months 6. Pre-enrollment labs (any of the following): International Normalized Ratio (INR) \> 3, Platelet count \< 50k, Hemoglobin \< 7 7. Refractory or recurrent cardiac arrest (\>1 episode requiring defibrillation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation) within 24 hours prior to screening 8. DNR/ DNI status 9. Pregnancy, child-birth within 6 months, or lactation 10. Active infection documented by persistent fever (Temp \> 38.4oC within 24 hours of screening) or confirmed bacteremia 11. Implantation of PPM or ICD within past 3 months 12. Mechanical complication of AMI (ie VSD, papillary muscle rupture, flail mitral regurgitation, free wall rupture) 13. Anoxic brain injury 14. On renal replacement therapy prior to enrollment 15. Cardiac surgery within 3 months of current admission 16. Severe aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid stenosis or acute structural mitral regurgitation or infective endocarditis 17. History of cardiac amyloid 18. Congenital heart disease excluding the presence of a bicuspid aortic valve 19. Planned cardiac surgery during admission 20. World Health Organization (WHO) Group I, III, IV, or V pulmonary hypertension 21. Any known contraindication to PAC placement 22. Participation in the active treatment or follow-up phase of another clinical study of an investigational drug or device that has not reached its primary endpoint 23. Any medical or psychiatric condition such as dementia, alcoholism, or substance abuse which may preclude informed consent or interfere with any of the study procedures, including follow-up 24. Prior stroke with any permanent neurologic deficit or any prior intracranial hemorrhage or any prior subdural hematoma or known intracranial pathology pre-disposing to intracranial bleeding, such as an arteriovenous malformation or mass 25. Subject has previously hospitalized for COVID-19 unless he/she has been discharged and asymptomatic for ≥4 weeks 26. Subject is COVID-19 PCR/antigen positive within the prior 4 weeks 27. Subject belongs to a vulnerable population \[defined as individuals with mental disability, persons in nursing homes, impoverished persons, homeless persons, nomads, refugees and those permanently incapable of giving informed consent; vulnerable populations also may include members of a group with a hierarchical structure such as university students, subordinate hospital and laboratory personnel, members of the armed forces and persons kept in detention\]

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

One single intervention group is designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
If you are in the experimental group a PAC will be placed within 6 hours of randomization and within 24 hours of presentation with ADHF-CS.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Recruiting

Tufts Medical Center

Boston, United StatesOpen Tufts Medical Center in Google Maps
Recruiting
One Study Center