The effect of the Oxford Head Elevating Laryngoscopy Pillow (OHELP), on spinal anaesthesia in elective caesarean sections

The effect of the Oxford Head Elevating Laryngoscopy Pillow (OHELP), on subarachnoid local anesthetic spread in elective caesarean sections

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN50624101

Enrollment

100

Registered

2014-01-31

Start date

2013-06-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Extent of sensory block in females undergoing elective caesarean section for a singleton pregnancy, and receiving combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anaesthetic at L3/4 Pregnancy and Childbirth

Interventions

Intervention group and a control group from consecutively eligible parturients. The intervention group will lie on an Oxford Head Elevating Laryngoscopy Pillow and a standard head pillow . The contr

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Female

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All parturients agreeing to participate in the trial where are these criteria are met: 1. Elective caesarean section where there is no fetal or maternal compromise 2. Singleton pregnancy 3. Gestational age > 32 weeks

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Refusal to consent 2. Parturients opting for GA or with medical conditions preventing neuraxial anaesthesia 3. Emergency caesarean sections where there is fetal or maternal compromise (Lucas Grade 1 and 2) 4. Multiple pregnancy 5. Gestational age 40

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Sensory block will be assessed at 10 min post subarachnoid anesthesia induction (time 0) using loss of touch sensation to ethyl chloride sprayed bilaterally in the midclavicular line. The ethyl chloride spray container will be 5 cm from the patient's skin, and a continuous jet will be sprayed as the container is moved in a cranial direction. Primary outcome measure is a binary variable defined as lack of sensory block on the right or the left, below T6, versus bilateral block at least as high as T6. Measured at 10 min from the baseline.	—

Measure

Time frame

Sensory block will be assessed at 10 min post subarachnoid anesthesia induction (time 0) using loss of touch sensation to ethyl chloride sprayed bilaterally in the midclavicular line. The ethyl chloride spray container will be 5 cm from the patient's skin, and a continuous jet will be sprayed as the container is moved in a cranial direction. Primary outcome measure is a binary variable defined as lack of sensory block on the right or the left, below T6, versus bilateral block at least as high as T6. Measured at 10 min from the baseline.

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Conversion to general anaesthetic for any reason 2. Administration of a top-up dose of anaesthetic of any sort Measured at the baseline	—

Countries

Ireland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026