RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Respiratory Parameters Using Advanced Airways During In-hospital Cardiac Arrest

This research focuses on people who have a sudden heart stop while in hospital, called a cardiac arrest. When this happens, doctors often use special breathing tubes to help get air into the lungs. This study aims to measure exactly how much air is delivered with different types of tubes during these life-saving efforts. Researchers want to find out which tubes work best at getting air into the lungs. They will use a small, safe device that measures the airflow without changing how doctors treat the patient. The study hopes that by understanding this better, we can improve how people are cared for during a cardiac arrest.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

Start

28 Aug 2024

Estimated completion

01 Aug 2026

Cardiac Arrest

What is this study about?

Imagine someone in hospital suddenly has their heart stop working properly – this is called a cardiac arrest. When this happens, doctors and nurses act quickly to try and get the heart beating again and help the person breathe. They often use special tubes, called 'airways', to deliver breaths and oxygen directly to the lungs. This study wants to understand how effective these different breathing tubes are.

Researchers will be looking at people who are already part of another important study called AIRWAYS-3. If a patient in that study has a cardiac arrest, and the doctors decide they need one of these special breathing tubes, then this study will simply add a small, safe device to the breathing equipment. This device will quietly measure exactly how much air goes into the lungs without anyone having to do anything differently. It doesn't interfere with the medical care happening.

The main goal is to compare the amounts of air delivered by different types of breathing tubes regularly used in hospitals. By gathering this information, without changing how care is given, doctors hope to learn which approaches are most effective at helping patients breathe during a cardiac arrest. This knowledge could help guide future medical practices and ultimately improve patient care during these critical emergencies.

Key takeaways

The study investigates how much air gets into lungs during CPR for in-hospital cardiac arrest.
It compares different breathing tubes used in emergencies.
A harmless device measures airflow without affecting patient care.
Data collected is anonymous and helps improve future treatment.
This research focuses on making CPR more effective.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you would need to be an adult (18 years or older) who is already in hospital. The study focuses on people who have a sudden heart stop (cardiac arrest) while they are in the hospital.

For you to be included, doctors would need to be giving you CPR, and there would need to be a doctor present who is skilled in putting in different types of breathing tubes (both a tube directly into the windpipe and a tube that sits above it).

You would not be able to join if you had your cardiac arrest outside of the hospital and were brought in while still having the arrest. Also, people who are not current hospital inpatients (like visitors or staff), those who are already breathing through a tube in their windpipe, or pregnant patients would not be included.

Quick self-check

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you currently an inpatient in the hospital?
If you were to have a cardiac arrest, would it happen while you're in hospital?
Are you not currently pregnant?
Are you not already breathing through a special breathing tube (tracheostomy)?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you are already in the AIRWAYS-3 trial and experience a cardiac arrest in hospital, and your doctors decide you need a breathing tube, a small measuring device will be added to the breathing circuit for a short time. This device will work automatically to measure the amount of air going into your lungs. It won't change your medical care or how the doctors treat you. The device will be removed once you start breathing on your own, are put on a breathing machine, or if doctors decide to stop resuscitation efforts. No extra visits or follow-up appointments are needed for this specific part of the study. Your anonymised breathing data will be collected, along with some basic health information that's already being gathered for the AIRWAYS-3 study, such as your age, weight, and the outcome of the cardiac arrest.

Potential risks and benefits

This study is designed to have no direct risks to you. The measuring device is simply added to existing breathing equipment during a critical medical emergency and doesn't change your treatment. It doesn't involve any extra procedures or medicines. The potential benefit is that the information gathered could help doctors understand how to provide better breathing support during cardiac arrest in the future, improving care for many people. You would be fully cared for by your doctors as usual, and you or your loved ones always have the right to ask questions or withdraw from any study data collection at any point.

Locations (1)

Royal United Hospital Bath
Bath, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a 'cardiac arrest'?

A cardiac arrest is when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood around your body. This is a very serious medical emergency.

Will this study change my medical treatment?

No, this study will not change how doctors treat you. A small device will just measure airflow during your normal care.

What is an 'advanced airway'?

An advanced airway is a special tube doctors use to help you breathe by getting air directly into your lungs during emergencies like a cardiac arrest.

Is the measuring device safe?

Yes, the device is safe and simply sits in the breathing circuit to measure airflow; it doesn't enter your body or change your care.

Will my personal details be shared?

No, the information collected for the study will be anonymous, meaning your identity will be kept private and not linked to the data.

How to find out more

James Penketh

jpenketh@nhs.net 07973504245 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.