CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03502915Updated Oct 30, 2019Results posted

Nitrous Oxide for External Cephalic Version

A Phase 3 interventional study of Nitrous Oxide and Placebo in External Cephalic Version, sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-10-30.

Sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 1 year 2 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jan 2017, registered Apr 2018).
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
48
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of nitrous oxide in reducing the anxiety and pain associated with external cephalic version (ECV); a maneuver to turn the fetus from breech to cephalic position.

Read the detailed description

Study Procedures:

Potential subjects will be identified as they are scheduled to undergo ECV at the UNC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Subjects will be enrolled in the study by one of the study investigators. Details of the study will be reviewed with potential subjects and those wishing to enroll in the study will be consented for the study by one of the study investigators. Once enrolled participants will be randomized to receive either a mixture of 50% nitrous oxide in 50% oxygen or 100% oxygen, both of which will be delivered via the Nitronox apparatus. Demographic variables will be recorded for each participant at the time they are enrolled in the study

The Nitronox apparatus will be set up to deliver either 50% nitrous oxide in 50% oxygen or 100% oxygen by an anesthesia provider covering labor and delivery who is not involved in the study. The Nitronox device will be covered to prevent participants, study investigators and obstetricians performing the procedure from knowing whether nitrous oxide is being delivered. Nitrous oxide is odorless and colorless, so in that way is indistinguishable from oxygen.

Participants will be prepared for ECV according to current protocols for ECV at UNC. IV access will be obtained and tocolytic agents will be given according to current practice and protocols. Monitoring of maternal and fetal vital signs will be done according to current protocols.

Immediately before an ECV attempt participants will breathe through the facemask of the Nitronox device for 30 seconds and will then be free to use the device ad lib during the ECV attempt. Immediately following each attempt, while fetal monitoring is occurring, the participants will be asked to rate their maximum pain score during the previous attempt. They will also be asked to rate their current level of anxiety. This process will be repeated for any further ECV attempts.

At conclusion of all ECV attempts, while fetal monitoring is occurring, the participants will be asked to rate their current level of pain, their satisfaction with the procedure and about any side effects they experienced (nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, other). Participants will continue to be monitored on labor and delivery as current protocol dictates, typically 30 minutes of maternal and fetal monitoring if there are no complications and fetal status is reassuring.

Following the procedure, the obstetrician who performed the procedure will be asked to rate how difficult they felt it was to perform the procedure and to rate how much they felt the analgesic provided assisted in performing the procedure. They will also be asked to indicate whether they thought the patient was in the treatment or placebo arm of the study. This will be recorded to address the adequacy of blinding.

All study variables will be assessed and recorded by one of the study investigators to ensure consistency in data collection.

02

Conditions studied

  • External Cephalic Version

Keywords

  • breech presentation
  • nitrous oxide
  • analgesia
  • pregnancy
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is the lead sponsor of 1,340 studies on the registry; 133 are open to participants now.

Of its 155 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 136 (88%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Female 18 years or greater
  • Scheduled to undergo external cephalic version due to singleton breech presentation
  • Not scheduled to have spinal or epidural anesthesia during the version procedure
  • American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) Physical Status 1, 2 or 3.
  • Able to provide informed consent and adhere to study protocol

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current or historical evidence of any clinically significant disease or condition, especially cardiovascular or neurological conditions that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may increase the risk of exposure to nitrous oxide or complicate the subject's post-procedural course.
  • Significant medical conditions or laboratory results that, in the opinion of the Investigator, indicate an increased vulnerability to study drugs and procedures.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
48 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Nitrous Oxide

    Patients will receive nitrous oxide during the version procedure.

    Drug: Nitrous Oxide

  • Placebo comparator
    Oxygen

    Patients will receive placebo (100% oxygen) during the version procedure.

    Other: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugNitrous Oxide

    50% nitrous oxide/50% oxygen via Nitronox delivery device

    Also known as: Laughing gas

  • OtherPlacebo

    100% oxygen via Nitronox delivery device

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean Pain Score Experienced During Version

    Pain scores will be collected following each version attempt using an 11 point scale (with 0 being no pain at all; 10 being worst pain imaginable), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more pain, lower scores indicate less pain. If more than one attempt, pain scores will be averaged to obtain a single score for the entire procedure.

    Time frame: During each version procedure, a total average of up to approximately 30 minutes

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean Anxiety Score Experienced During Version

    Anxiety scores will be collected following each version attempt using an 11 point scale (0 being not at all anxious; 10 being extremely anxious), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more anxiety, lower scores indicate less anxiety. If more than one attempt, anxiety scores will be averaged to obtain a single score for the entire procedure.

    Time frame: During each version procedure, a total average of up to approximately 30 minutes

  2. Mean Post-procedure Pain Score

    Pain scores will be collected following completion of the version using an 11 point scale (0 being no pain at all; 10 being worst pain imaginable), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more pain, lower scores indicate less pain.

    Time frame: Immediately Post-procedure, within approximately 15 minutes of final version attempt

  3. Mean Post-procedure Patient Satisfaction Score

    Satisfaction will be assessed following the procedure using an 11 point scale (0 being not at all satisfied; 10 being extremely satisfied), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more satisfaction, lower scores indicate less satisfaction.

    Time frame: Immediately Post-procedure, within approximately 15 minutes of final version attempt

  4. Mean Post-procedure Provider Assessed Level of Difficulty Score

    Following the procedure, the obstetric provider performing the procedure will rate the ease of procedure on a 1-10 scale (1 being very easy and 10 being extremely difficult), ranging from 1 to 10. Higher scores indicate more difficulty, lower scores indicate less difficulty. A 10 point scale was used for this outcome, while an 11 point scale was used for the other 4 outcome measures (pain, anxiety, post-procedure pain and satisfaction).

    Time frame: Immediately Post-procedure, within approximately 15 minutes of final version attempt

07

Results

Posted Oct 30, 2019

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneNitrous OxideOxygen
Started2424
Completed2424
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryMean Pain Score Experienced During Version

Pain scores will be collected following each version attempt using an 11 point scale (with 0 being no pain at all; 10 being worst pain imaginable), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more pain, lower scores indicate less pain. If more than one attempt, pain scores will be averaged to obtain a single score for the entire procedure.

Time frame:
During each version procedure, a total average of up to approximately 30 minutes
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Mean Pain Score Experienced During Version
score on a scaleNitrous OxideOxygen
Mean Pain Score Experienced During Version5.486 ± 2.3075.433 ± 2.695
Statistical analysis
  • Nitrous Oxide vs Oxygen · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.943 · Mean difference (final values): 0.053 · 95% CI -1.402 to 1.507
SecondaryMean Anxiety Score Experienced During Version

Anxiety scores will be collected following each version attempt using an 11 point scale (0 being not at all anxious; 10 being extremely anxious), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more anxiety, lower scores indicate less anxiety. If more than one attempt, anxiety scores will be averaged to obtain a single score for the entire procedure.

Time frame:
During each version procedure, a total average of up to approximately 30 minutes
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Mean Anxiety Score Experienced During Version
score on a scaleNitrous OxideOxygen
Mean Anxiety Score Experienced During Version4.696 ± 2.9694.253 ± 2.762
Statistical analysis
  • Nitrous Oxide vs Oxygen · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.597 · Mean difference (final values): 0.443 · 95% CI -1.229 to 2.114
SecondaryMean Post-procedure Pain Score

Pain scores will be collected following completion of the version using an 11 point scale (0 being no pain at all; 10 being worst pain imaginable), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more pain, lower scores indicate less pain.

Time frame:
Immediately Post-procedure, within approximately 15 minutes of final version attempt
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Mean Post-procedure Pain Score
score on a scaleNitrous OxideOxygen
Mean Post-procedure Pain Score1 ± 1.1550.88 ± 1.394
Statistical analysis
  • Nitrous Oxide vs Oxygen · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.748 · Mean difference (final values): 0.12 · 95% CI -0.629 to 0.869
SecondaryMean Post-procedure Patient Satisfaction Score

Satisfaction will be assessed following the procedure using an 11 point scale (0 being not at all satisfied; 10 being extremely satisfied), ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more satisfaction, lower scores indicate less satisfaction.

Time frame:
Immediately Post-procedure, within approximately 15 minutes of final version attempt
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Mean Post-procedure Patient Satisfaction Score
score on a scaleNitrous OxideOxygen
Mean Post-procedure Patient Satisfaction Score4.286 ± 4.0276.920 ± 3.593
Statistical analysis
  • Nitrous Oxide vs Oxygen · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.025 · Mean difference (final values): -2.634 · 95% CI -4.927 to -0.341
SecondaryMean Post-procedure Provider Assessed Level of Difficulty Score

Following the procedure, the obstetric provider performing the procedure will rate the ease of procedure on a 1-10 scale (1 being very easy and 10 being extremely difficult), ranging from 1 to 10. Higher scores indicate more difficulty, lower scores indicate less difficulty. A 10 point scale was used for this outcome, while an 11 point scale was used for the other 4 outcome measures (pain, anxiety, post-procedure pain and satisfaction).

Time frame:
Immediately Post-procedure, within approximately 15 minutes of final version attempt
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Mean Post-procedure Provider Assessed Level of Difficulty Score
score on a scaleNitrous OxideOxygen
Mean Post-procedure Provider Assessed Level of Difficulty Score6.136 ± 2.216.080 ± 3.187
Statistical analysis
  • Nitrous Oxide vs Oxygen · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.944 · Mean difference (final values): 0.056 · 95% CI -1.543 to 1.655

Adverse events

Collected over During each version procedure (or attempt), a total average of up to approximately 30 minutes and through approximately 15 minutes post-procedure following the final version attempt.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Nitrous Oxide0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)5/24 (20.8%)
Oxygen0/24 (0%)0/24 (0%)3/24 (12.5%)
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventNitrous OxideOxygen
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders2/242/24
DizzinessNervous system disorders2/241/24
Transient headacheGeneral disorders1/240/24

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
Mean32.5 ± 4.731.8 ± 4.332.1 ± 4.5
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
Female242448
Male000
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
White161733
Black/African American235
Hispanic224
Asian325
Other101
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(Participants)Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
United States242448
Baby Weight
Baby Weight(Grams)Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
Mean3631.8 ± 491.23242.4 ± 416.63433.1 ± 491
Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI)
Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI)(centimeters (cm))Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
Mean12.3 ± 4.511.1 ± 4.211.6 ± 4.3
Gestational Age
Gestational Age(Weeks)Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
Median37.1 ± 0.437.2 ± 0.437.1 ± 0.4
BMI
BMI(Kg/m^2)Nitrous OxideOxygenTotal
Mean29.3 ± 5.131 ± 6.330.2 ± 5.7
08

Study locations

1 site
  • University of North Carolina
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Hannah ME, Hannah WJ, Hewson SA, Hodnett ED, Saigal S, Willan AR. Planned caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth for breech presentation at term: a randomised multicentre trial. Term Breech Trial Collaborative Group. Lancet. 2000 Oct 21;356(9239):1375-83. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(00)02840-3. PubMed 11052579 ↗
  • ACOG Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 340. Mode of term singleton breech delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jul;108(1):235-7. doi: 10.1097/00006250-200607000-00058. PubMed 16816088 ↗
  • Fok WY, Chan LW, Leung TY, Lau TK. Maternal experience of pain during external cephalic version at term. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2005 Aug;84(8):748-51. doi: 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00505.x. PubMed 16026399 ↗
  • Lavoie A, Guay J. Anesthetic dose neuraxial blockade increases the success rate of external fetal version: a meta-analysis. Can J Anaesth. 2010 May;57(5):408-14. doi: 10.1007/s12630-010-9278-4. Epub 2010 Feb 3. PubMed 20127530 ↗
  • Weiniger CF, Ginosar Y, Elchalal U, Sharon E, Nokrian M, Ezra Y. External cephalic version for breech presentation with or without spinal analgesia in nulliparous women at term: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Dec;110(6):1343-50. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000295605.38175.7b. PubMed 18055730 ↗
  • Likis FE, Andrews JC, Collins MR, Lewis RM, Seroogy JJ, Starr SA, Walden RR, McPheeters ML. Nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain: a systematic review. Anesth Analg. 2014 Jan;118(1):153-67. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3182a7f73c. Erratum In: Anesth Analg. 2014 Apr;118(4):885. PubMed 24356165 ↗
  • Rosen MA. Nitrous oxide for relief of labor pain: a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002 May;186(5 Suppl Nature):S110-26. doi: 10.1067/mob.2002.121259. PubMed 12011877 ↗
  • Creeley CE, Olney JW. The young: neuroapoptosis induced by anesthetics and what to do about it. Anesth Analg. 2010 Feb 1;110(2):442-8. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181c6b9ca. Epub 2009 Dec 2. PubMed 19955510 ↗
  • Jevtovic-Todorovic V, Hartman RE, Izumi Y, Benshoff ND, Dikranian K, Zorumski CF, Olney JW, Wozniak DF. Early exposure to common anesthetic agents causes widespread neurodegeneration in the developing rat brain and persistent learning deficits. J Neurosci. 2003 Feb 1;23(3):876-82. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-03-00876.2003. PubMed 12574416 ↗
  • Schnabel A, Hahn N, Broscheit J, Muellenbach RM, Rieger L, Roewer N, Kranke P. Remifentanil for labour analgesia: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2012 Apr;29(4):177-85. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0b013e32834fc260. PubMed 22273829 ↗
  • Munoz H, Guerra S, Perez-Vaquero P, Valero Martinez C, Aizpuru F, Lopez-Picado A. Remifentanil versus placebo for analgesia during external cephalic version: a randomised clinical trial. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2014 Feb;23(1):52-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2013.07.006. Epub 2014 Jan 3. PubMed 24388737 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Sep 30, 2016

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — De-identified IPD for all primary and secondary outcome measures will be made available.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf, Csr, Analytic code

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 30, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03502915
Lead sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 19, 2018
Start date
Jan 30, 2017
Primary completion
Feb 14, 2019
Completion
Feb 14, 2019
Results posted
Oct 30, 2019
Last update
Oct 30, 2019

Study contacts

Kathleen A. Smith, MD, FASA
principal investigator · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Oversight

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

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