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Efficacy of Premixed Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen in Patient With Out-of-hospital Moderate Acute Pain

Efficacy of Premixed Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen in Patient With Out-of-hospital Moderate Acute Pain: a Randomized Double-blind Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01356745
Acronym
MEOPA
Enrollment
60
Registered
2011-05-19
Start date
2010-02-28
Completion date
2011-05-31
Last updated
2017-05-12

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

Conditions

Acute Pain

Keywords

premixed nitrous oxide and oxygen, acute pain, prehospital setting

Brief summary

Less than 10% of patients with a traumatic pain have been managed by a physician before to be admitted in an emergency service. 50 % of those patients have been carried by paramedics. Premixed nitrous oxide and oxygen is often used by paramedics, but no scientific studies have demonstrated its efficacy. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the efficacy of premixed nitrous oxide and oxygen in patients with out-of-hospital moderate acute pain.

Detailed description

The study will evaluate the efficacy of premixed nitrous oxide and oxygen (MEOPA) in patients with out-of-hospital moderate acute pain. The primary endpoint is the percentage of patients with pain relief (with a numerical rating scale of 3/10 or lower) 15 minutes after randomisation. Secondary endpoints are treatment safety and adverse events, time to analgesia and duration of analgesia. This study will expect 60 patients assigned in two parallel groups, defined by a randomization scheme. Group assignments were sealed in opaque envelopes and will be open sequentially by the dispatcher when the paramedic is ready to include the patient. The letter contained in the envelope corresponds to the cylinder to use. Eligible patients with a numeric rating scale (NRS) score between 3 and 6/10 are randomly allocated to receive either MEOPA, or medical air. Fifteen minutes after the randomisation, all patients will receive MEOPA from a distinct cylinder. Pain score will be measured at baseline and every 5 minutes until pain relief will be obtained. The paramedic blinded to the analgesic treatment groups will do all assessments of patients. The safety evaluation will include non invasive monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2) and adverse events collection.

Interventions

DRUGPremixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen (Kalinox)

15 min inhalation dose (maximum duration of treatment of a subject)

DRUGmedical air

inhalation gas for inhalation use

Sponsors

University Hospital, Toulouse
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients aged 18 years old * Patients with a moderate acute pain (NRS score between 3 and 6)

Exclusion criteria

* Contraindication of premixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen * Recent treatment of analgesic (less than 6 hours)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of patients with pain relief Number of patients with pain relief Number of patients with pain relief15 minutesPain is mesured with a numerical rating scale (NRS)score on 10.Pain relief is defined by a NRS score of 3 or less

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Delay of analgesia (e.g. delay required to obtain analgesia)Every 5 minutes from randomization for a one hour periodAnalgesia is obtained when the numerical rating scale score is or less than 3/10
Adverse eventsEvery 5 minutes from randomization for a one hour periodOccurrence of any adverse event from a predefined list. Nausea, Emesis, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dysphoria, Anxiety, Ear pain

Countries

France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026