DRAIN: DRainage in Acute Decompensated Heart faIlure With Pleural effusioNs

The goal of this study is to assess if removal of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) by a routine procedure called as thoracentesis is helpful to decrease shortness of breath in hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure and have pleural effusion. Researchers will compare thoracentesis with medical therapy to medical therapy alone to see if one treatment is superior to the other treatment in relieving shortness of breath. Participants will : 1. Receive medical therapy with or without thoracentesis 2. Record degree of shortness of breath and quality of life before and after the intervention using predefined standard scales. 3. Telephonic call for 15- 30 mins at day 14 and 30 after enrollment to assess shortness of breath and quality of life

NCT Number	NCT07419360
Lead Sponsor	Albany Medical College
Conditions	Congestive Heart Failure(CHF), Pleural Effusion Due to Congestive Heart Failure
Enrollment	216 participants
Start Date	2026-02-15
Primary Completion	2029-02 (estimated)
Study Completion	2029-06 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-30