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CompletedNCT02468752Updated May 27, 2022

Reduction of Venous Emboli Load After Breathing Normobaric Oxygen Compared to Air

A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Oxygen and Air in Hyperbaric, Diving Medicine and Decompression Sickness, sponsored by Göteborg University. Completed at 2 sites in Sweden. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-05-27.

Sponsored by Göteborg University · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
48
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Primary objective:

  • Assessment of venous gas emboli load post diving when breathing normobaric oxygen compared to air.

Secondary objective:

  • Assessment of fluid markers of central nervous system injury in blood post diving
  • Assessment of fluid markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in blood post diving

Tertiary objective:

  • Assessment of DCS frequency
Read the detailed description

This is a prospective, double blinded, randomized, cross-over study in Sweden. The study was performed in two different sets, each containing standardized dives in a wet hyperbaric chamber. The dives included movement on depth.

In each study set 16-32 professional divers performed no-decompression dives to a depth of 42 metres of seawater (msw). The gas used during the dives was compressed air.

After surfacing the divers breathed either normobaric oxygen or normobaric air on a demand mask. Timing of oxygen/air-breathing differed between study sets. The content of breathing gas was unknown to both divers and examining personnel.

Immediately post dive the divers were assessed using either transthoracic doppler ultrasound (TTD) or transthoracic 2-D ultrasound (TTE) to determine VGE load, time to VGE detection and VGE duration.

Signs of DCS were actively sought.

TTD measurements were done every five minutes during the first 30 minutes, thereafter every 15 minutes during 90 minutes.

TTE was performed every 30 minutes, using an apical 4-chamber view.

Blood samples were obtained pre-dive, 30-45 minutes post-dive and 120 minutes post-dive.

Set 1: 16 divers, divided into two equal groups (A and B). Dive to 42 msw during 10 min with a safety stop at five msw during three min. Immediately post dive breathing of oxygen (group A) or air (group B) during 30 min. VGE load, time to VGE detection and VGE duration is recorded. Blood samples were obtained pre-dive and 30 and 120 minutes post-dive. After 48 hours, the dives were repeated with switched gases between the groups.

Set 2: 32 divers, divided into two equal groups (A and B). Dive to 42 msw during 10 min with a safety stop at five msw during three min. Fifteen minutes post dive breathing of oxygen (group A) or air (group B) during 30 min. VGE load, time to VGE detection and VGE duration is recorded. Blood samples were obtained pre-dive and 45 and 120 minutes post-dive, from the first 16 divers. After 48 hours, the dives were repeated with switched gases between the groups.

Two further planned sets with repeated diving and shorter duration of oxygen/air-breathing were never carried through.

AE including SAE will be recorded during the study. DCS may be considered either an AE or SAE depending on severity. Ongoing AE and SAE will be followed up.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hyperbaric
  • Diving Medicine
  • Decompression Sickness
  • Central Nervous Injury
  • Inflammation
  • Endothelial Dysfunction
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Professional diver
  • Fit to dive according to Swedish Navy standards

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • NONE
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2 / Phase 3
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
48 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Sham comparator
    Air

    Normobaric air breathing

    Other: Air

  • Experimental
    Oxygen

    Normobaric oxygen breathing

    Drug: Oxygen

Interventions

  • DrugOxygen
  • OtherAir
05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Venous gas emboli

    Kisman-Masurel grading

    Time frame: 120 minutes

Secondary outcomes

  1. Inflammatory activity and endothelial dysfunction

    E.g. VCAM-1, ICAM-1

    Time frame: 120 minutes/ 48 hours

  2. Decompression sickness

    Clinical diagnosis

    Time frame: 24 hours

  3. Markers of central nervous system injury

    E.g. GFAP, Tau, NfL, UCHL-1

    Time frame: 120 minutes/ 48 hours

06

Study locations

2 sites
  • Sahlgrenska University Hospital
    Gothenburg, S-416 85, Sweden
  • Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan
    Stockholm, S-100 44, Sweden
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02468752
Lead sponsor
Göteborg University
Collaborators
Swedish Armed Forces Diving and Naval Medicine Centre, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Responsible party
Nicklas Oscarsson (MD, Göteborg University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jun 11, 2015
Start date
May 2015
Primary completion
Apr 2019
Completion
Apr 2019
Last update
May 27, 2022

Study contacts

Mikael Gennser, PhD
principal investigator · Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, Stockholm, Sweden

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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