Pre-flight Titration of Supplemental Oxygen

COPD and Air Travel: Oxygen Equipment and Pre-flight Titration of Supplemental Oxygen

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01019538

Enrollment

Registered

2009-11-25

Start date

2008-12-31

Completion date

2010-04-30

Last updated

2011-07-06

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

Conditions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Keywords

Oxygen, Hypoxemia, Air travel

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate if supplemental oxygen during air travel can be reliably titrated using a Hypoxia-altitude simulation test (HAST). Also, the effect of oxygen supplementation given with the various oxygen equipment allowed for air travel is studied.

Detailed description

International guidelines recommend supplemental oxygen if PaO2 \< 6.7 kPa (50 mmHg) during air travel. Hypobaric chamber exposure is the ideal test but is not widely available. In clinical practice, the HAST has been recommended as the preferable test for pre-flight evaluation, and is used with increasing frequency. The oxygen dose during air travel has been recommended titrated during HAST. In the study, supplemental oxygen titration during hypobaric chamber exposure is compared to oxygen titration during HAST, to evaluate if HAST can be used with confidence to titrate the amount of supplemental oxygen needed during air travel.

Interventions

OTHERPre-flight test with supplemental oxygen

The Hypoxia-altitude simulation test, which is established in clinical practice, is compared to the gold standard of hypobaric chamber while giving supplemental gaseous oxygen without and with oxygen conserving device, and with oxygen concentrator.

Study design

Observational model

CASE_ONLY

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* COPD patients who have performed a Hypoxia-altitude simulation test with a PaO2 \< 6.7 kPa

Exclusion criteria

* exacerbation or pneumothorax within the previous six weeks * LTOT * anemia * pulmonary disease other than COPD * cerebrovascular or symptomatic cardiovascular disease * claustrophobia * inability to equalize pressure in the middle ear

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
PaO2 obtained from oxygen titration during HAST vs hypobaric chamber	1 day

Countries

Norway

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 30, 2026