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Adjunctive Nitrous Oxide During Emergency Department Propofol Sedation in Adults

Adjunctive Nitrous Oxide During Emergency Department Propofol Sedation in Adults, a Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02410707
Enrollment
43
Registered
2015-04-08
Start date
2015-02-28
Completion date
2018-02-28
Last updated
2020-04-08

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

Conditions

Abscess, Joint Dislocation, Perianal Abscess

Keywords

procedural sedation, procedural pain, procedural anxiolysis

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to describe the safety and efficacy of nitrous oxide administration for pain and anxiety before propofol in patients requiring any procedure under sedation in the Emergency Department. Procedural sedation is the use of sedative, analgesic, and/or dissociative agents to relieve anxiety and pain associated with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Propofol is commonly used and is a sedative and amnestic, but provides no analgesia. Short acting opioids may be used for pain relief, but come with the risk of respiratory depression. An optimum analgesic to relieve pain in patients who need procedural sedation should be short acting, easy to administer and safe. Nitrous oxide may be a suitable agent, but literature supporting or rejecting its use in adults is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap. Adult patients capable of consenting, coming to the Emergency Department with painful condition requiring procedural sedation are the targeted population. Eligible patients who consent to the study will receive Nitrous Oxide gas delivered through a hand held mask before they receive propofol for the procedure. Information regarding their vitals, pain scores and medical condition will also be collected.

Detailed description

This pilot study will be conducted in a prospective, non-randomized fashion using a convenience sample of 100 subjects undergoing sedation for Emergency Department procedures. Recruitment Methods The research associates as well as the health care team (both residents and attending physicians) will screen patients who may need procedural sedation in the Emergency Department and may qualify for the study. Research associates will use the Medical Record Procedures Involved in the Research Initial medical assessment will be made in accordance with established clinical procedures, including the history, physical examination, and vital signs. If by clinical assessment the patient meets eligibility criteria, then they will be approached by a research associate for enrollment in the study. After informed consent is obtained and prior to starting the sedation, standard vital sign monitoring will be placed on the patient (electrocardiogram, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry, and capnography). Level of consciousness will be determined using the modified Ramsay scale, which will be assessed at baseline. The Entitled Carbon Di Oxide (CO2) monitor will be used as the primary device to measure Entitled Carbon Di Oxide (CO2), with a nasal cannula capable of delivering supplemental oxygen and measuring Entitled CO2. The Nitrous Oxide gas mixer system will be used as the primary nitrous oxide delivery device. It will mix and deliver nitrous oxide and oxygen in a 1:1 ratio, at a fixed concentration of 50%/50%. It uses a patient driven demand valve system that is hand held. This device provides a consistent, fixed 50%/50% blend of nitrous oxide (N2O) and oxygen (O2), eliminates the need to titrate, and provides fixed concentrations for controlled and consistent dosing. The device comparator detects dosing imbalance to protect against hypoxic mixtures, it cannot deliver nitrous gas without concurrent oxygen, and the device has an anti-asphyxia valve override. The on demand valve requires patient inspiration to trigger dosing. This portable device scavenges exhaled waste gases for environmental safety, as well as a key mechanism that renders the system inoperable without it for security. After informed consent, the patient will fill out a pre procedure questionnaire and a 100 mm VAS baseline pain scale. The patient will be given the mask for delivery of nitrous oxide, and instructed on its use. The research associate will mark the time the patient began using the device electronically. Once IV access is established, and the team and patient are ready to begin the procedure, the nitrous oxide mask will be removed, and a 100% non rebreather mask delivering 15 liters a minute of supplemental oxygen will be placed on the patients face. The loading dose of propofol will then be administered immediately. All sedations in this trial will use propofol 1.0 mg/Kg initial dose, with 0.5 mg/Kg doses titrated to deep sedation. Once the patient is deeply sedated, the procedure will begin. The subject's clinical data and sedation information (refer to data management) will be entered into a standardized data collection form. The data will be continuously recorded throughout the sedation and recovery periods. Study will end when the subjects recovers back to baseline mental status. Vital signs will be flagged electronically when a physician intervenes for clinical respiratory depression. Respiratory depression will be defined as peripheral Oxygen saturation below 92%, Entitled CO2 level above 50, a rise or decrease of 10% above or below baseline, the loss of the Entitled CO2 waveform for more than 15 seconds. Level of consciousness will be determined using the modified Ramsay scale, which will be recorded at baseline and at the point of deepest sedation. Once the procedure is complete, and the patient is deemed back to their mental status baseline, they will fill out a post procedure satisfaction questionnaire, and a 100 mm VAS scale. They will be asked about procedure recall. The physician and nurse involved will also fill out a post procedure questionnaire. System for screening, and they will be in charge of informed consent, enrollment, placement of the capnography monitor, as well as data collection. The health care team will be in charge of the procedural sedation and all other management.

Interventions

DRUGNitrous Oxide arm

Patients undergoing procedural sedation with propofol will undergo an initial medical assessment including the history, physical examination, and vital signs. The patients will then receive Nitrous Oxide gas via a gas mixer device before receiving propofol. The device will mix and deliver nitrous oxide and oxygen in a 1:1 ratio, at a fixed concentration of 50%/50%. The on demand valve requires patient inspiration to trigger dosing.

DRUGPropofol

The loading dose of propofol will be administered immediately after nitrous oxide discontinuation. All sedations in this trial will use propofol 1.0 mg/Kg initial dose, with 0.5 mg/Kg doses titrated to deep sedation. Once the patient is deeply sedated, the procedure will begin.

DRUGOxygen

If pulse oximetry declines to less than 92%, subject will be placed on nasal cannula with administration of 2 liter flow of oxygen and titrated in increments of 1 L flow to maintain pulse oximetry greater than 92%

Sponsors

Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Spontaneous respirations * 18 years of age and older * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification 1 or 2, who will be receiving sedation for an Emergency Department procedure. * Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Comorbidities that affect ventilation, perfusion, or metabolism * Intubated * Cardiopulmonary instability * Major trauma * Sepsis * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 3, 4, and 5. * Inability to provide informed consent * Nursing home residents * Age less than 18 years * Non English speaking * Pregnant women * Under police custody

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Number of Respiratory Depression Eventsday 1End tidal CO2 and SpO2 measured every 20 milliseconds seconds captured by a monitoring device. Events of respiratory depression are defined as peripheral SaO2 below 92%, ETCO2 level above 50, a rise or decrease of 10% above or below baseline, and/or the loss of the ETCO2 waveform for more than 15 seconds

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Number of Events Requiring Additional Oxygenday 1Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring additional oxygen via nasal cannula or non rebreather by the provider due to oxygen saturation less than 92%
Total Number of Positive Pressure Ventilation Eventsday 1Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring positive pressure ventilation via a bag valve max due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%
Total Number of Endotracheal Intubation Eventsday 1Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring endotracheal intubation by provider due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%
Total Number of Airway Repositioning Eventsday 1Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring airway repositioning by provider due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%
Patient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction Surveysday 1Patient satisfaction with use of Nitrous Oxide in anxiolysis and pain control
Post-Procedure VAS Pain Scoreday 1Visual Analog Scale (0-100mm), where 0 mm is minimum pain, and 100 mm is maximum pain.
Total Number of Physical Stimulation Eventsday 1Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring physical stimulation by the provider due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Nitrous Oxide Arm
Patients undergoing procedural sedation with propofol will undergo an initial medical assessment including the history, physical examination, and vital signs. The patients will then receive Nitrous Oxide gas via a gas mixer device before receiving propofol. The device will mix and deliver nitrous oxide and oxygen in a 1:1 ratio, at a fixed concentration of 50%/50%. The on demand valve requires patient inspiration to trigger dosing. Nitrous Oxide arm: Patients undergoing procedural sedation with propofol will undergo an initial medical assessment including the history, physical examination, and vital signs. The patients will then receive Nitrous Oxide gas via a gas mixer device before receiving propofol. The device will mix and deliver nitrous oxide and oxygen in a 1:1 ratio, at a fixed concentration of 50%/50%. The on demand valve requires patient inspiration to trigger dosing. Propofol: The loading dose of propofol will be administered immediately after nitrous oxide use
43
Total43

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicNitrous Oxide Arm
Age, Continuous46.33 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 20.2
Baseline VAS Pain Score76.29 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 26.33
Fracture/Reduction41 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
10 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
22 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
43 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
16 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
27 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 43
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 43
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 43

Outcome results

Primary

Total Number of Respiratory Depression Events

End tidal CO2 and SpO2 measured every 20 milliseconds seconds captured by a monitoring device. Events of respiratory depression are defined as peripheral SaO2 below 92%, ETCO2 level above 50, a rise or decrease of 10% above or below baseline, and/or the loss of the ETCO2 waveform for more than 15 seconds

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Nitrous Oxide ArmTotal Number of Respiratory Depression Events0 events
Secondary

Patient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction Surveys

Patient satisfaction with use of Nitrous Oxide in anxiolysis and pain control

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Nitrous Oxide ArmPatient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction SurveysThe number of subjects satisfied with the level of90 percentage of subjects
Nitrous Oxide ArmPatient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction SurveysThe number of subjects would use NO in the future95 percentage of subjects
Nitrous Oxide ArmPatient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction SurveysProviders satisfied with the analgesia of NO82 percentage of subjects
Nitrous Oxide ArmPatient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction SurveysProviders ease of using NO device95 percentage of subjects
Nitrous Oxide ArmPatient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction SurveysPhysicians would recommend use of NO95 percentage of subjects
Nitrous Oxide ArmPatient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction SurveysNurses would recommend using NO device86 percentage of subjects
Nitrous Oxide ArmPatient, Physician, and Nurse Satisfaction SurveysNurses felt it improved care76 percentage of subjects
Secondary

Post-Procedure VAS Pain Score

Visual Analog Scale (0-100mm), where 0 mm is minimum pain, and 100 mm is maximum pain.

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Nitrous Oxide ArmPost-Procedure VAS Pain Score37.33 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 32.63
Secondary

Total Number of Airway Repositioning Events

Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring airway repositioning by provider due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Nitrous Oxide ArmTotal Number of Airway Repositioning Events0 events of airway repositioning
Secondary

Total Number of Endotracheal Intubation Events

Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring endotracheal intubation by provider due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Nitrous Oxide ArmTotal Number of Endotracheal Intubation Events0 events of endotracheal intubation
Secondary

Total Number of Events Requiring Additional Oxygen

Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring additional oxygen via nasal cannula or non rebreather by the provider due to oxygen saturation less than 92%

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Nitrous Oxide ArmTotal Number of Events Requiring Additional Oxygen0 events of additional oxygen
Secondary

Total Number of Physical Stimulation Events

Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring physical stimulation by the provider due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Nitrous Oxide ArmTotal Number of Physical Stimulation Events2 number of subjects
Secondary

Total Number of Positive Pressure Ventilation Events

Presence or absence of physician intervention requiring positive pressure ventilation via a bag valve max due to decreased oxygen saturation less than 92%

Time frame: day 1

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Nitrous Oxide ArmTotal Number of Positive Pressure Ventilation Events0 events of Positive pressure ventilation

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