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Snow Physical Properties and Human Ventilatory Response

NCT03082105 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 12

Last updated 2017-03-17

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Sufficient oxygenation is critical for completely buried avalanche victims to avoid life-threatening consequences during hypoxic exposure. Snow contains a remarkable capacity to maintain air availability; it was suspected that the snow physical properties affect the development of hypoxia and hypercapnia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different snow physical properties on the development of hypoxia and hypercapnia in subjects breathing into an artificial air pocket in snow. Twelve male healthy subjects breathed through an airtight face-mask and 40cm tube into an artificial air pocket of 4L. Every subject performed three tests on different days with varying snow characteristics. Symptoms, gas and cardiovascular parameters were monitored up to 30min. Tests were interrupted at SpO2 \<75% (primary endpoint); or due to subjective symptoms like dyspnea, dizziness, and headache (i.e. related to hypercapnia). Snow density was assessed via standard methods and micro-computed tomography (CT) analysis, and permeability and penetration with the snow micro-penetrometer (SMP).

Conditions

  • Hypoxic Respiratory Failure
  • Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure
  • Avalanche Burial
  • Snow Physical Properties

Interventions

OTHER

Breathing in snow

Breathing in snow with different physical properties

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Medical University Innsbruck

    collaborator OTHER

  • Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Giacomo Strapazzon, MD PhD · Eurac Research

  • Hermann Brugger, MD · Eurac Research

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2013-12-01
Primary Completion
2014-03-09
Completion
2014-03-09

Countries

  • Italy

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03082105 on ClinicalTrials.gov