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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03911011

Physiological Values When Breathing in an Air-pocket. Mountain Lab 2019 (ML2019)

The literature describes and report neurologic intact patients surviving an avalanche several hours after they were buried. The most important factor for surviving more than 15-35 min of burial is considered to be the presence of an air-filled space around the head and neck, termed an air pocket. Little is known how the inspired air is influenced by the patients breathing and how oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse through snow.

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Key information

Conditions

Accident Caused by Snow Avalanche

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Haukeland University Hospital

Bergen, Norway

About this study

In a controlled and simulated avalanche scenario the investigators want to investigate how oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) diffuse and how rebreathing of CO2 in addition to mild hypoxia influence standardized physiological parameters in two scenarios: Fresh air and no fresh air delivered into the air pocket. The project is a field study designed to measure and document gas diffusion through snow. The outcome measures are: (1) Concentration of O2 and CO2 in the air pocket and 50 cm from the pocket. (2) Time interval for development of threshold values for concentration of O2 and CO2. The investigators will also monitor physiologic measures such as: Electrocardiogram (ECG), continuous invasive blood pressure, cerebral oximetry, continuous pulse oximetry, transthoracic impedance, and gas content in expired air. Subjective evaluation of comfort will also be scored. Twenty healthy young volunteers with written consent to participate will be used as test subjects.

The study may have a clinical consequence for better outcome, for victims of avalanches by providing additional air or oxygen close to the patient. The study will also measure specific body measures and spirometry.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Subject must be Healthy
  • Subject must be non smoking
  • Subject must have normal BMI

Exclusion criteria

  • None

Treatment and study plan

Fresh air

Other

Fresh air insufflation of 2 L/min toward mouth/nose.

Primary outcomes

  1. Time

    Time frame: 25 minutes

    Time to reaching a threshold of physiology parameters or time limit

Other outcomes

  1. Physiology

    Time frame: 25 minutes

    Values of Physiology parameters

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Haukeland University Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Ullevaal University Hospital

Registry information

Official study title

Gas Diffusion in and Out of an Air Pocket After a Simulated Snow Avalanche and Its Impacts on Human Physiological Parameters.

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2021
First posted
Apr 10, 2019
Registry last updated
Feb 27, 2025

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.

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