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Neonatal Mask Seal; a Two-handed Versus One-handed Approach: The NeoSeal Study

Neonatal Mask Seal; a Randomised Controlled Trial of Two-handed Versus One-handed Hold for Delivering Positive-pressure Ventilation With a Facemask in Preterm and Term Infants: The NeoSeal Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06740344
Acronym
NeoSeal
Enrollment
110
Registered
2024-12-18
Start date
2025-01-27
Completion date
2026-04-21
Last updated
2026-05-12

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

Conditions

Neonatal Intensive Care

Keywords

Neonatology, Facemask ventilation, Face mask ventilation, Mask hold, One-handed mask hold, One-handed hold, Mask leak

Brief summary

When babies can't breathe effectively, we can use a facemask to give them breaths and oxygen. The mask can be held with one or two hands, depending on the preference of the doctor. Both types of mask holds are recommended in international guidelines, but it is unclear which one is better for the baby. If a lot of air is leaking around the mask, it means that the baby is not getting the full breathing support that the healthcare providers are trying to give. There currently is not enough evidence to say which type of hold is better to reduce this potential leaking of air. In this study, the investigators will compare two different ways of holding a mask on a baby's face to help them breathe. Each baby will be randomly allocated to either a one-handed or a two-handed mask hold, and the investigators will measure how much air leaks out around the mask during each breath. Any baby in the neonatal unit may be included in this study.

Detailed description

This study will compare the measured leak in mask ventilation delivered by a healthcare professional in the neonatal team, using a one-handed versus a two-handed hold with a standardised mask size and shape. This is to assess the two-handed technique as a potential first-line approach in neonatal bag-mask ventilation. The handholds will be assessed by a randomised controlled trial, with the two-handed hold as the intervention and the one-handed hold as the control. The population that will be studied is neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), at any gestation, who the clinical team have decided to intubate. A member of the research team, who will provide an out-of-hours on call service, will attend the event. The relevant outcomes will be measured by the Monivent Neo100, which will be set up by the research team. Standardised masks, as used per local protocol, will be used, with the sensor module placed between that and the T-piece with an adaptor. The outcomes will assess the effectiveness of both the intervention and control, including ventilation parameters recorded by the Monivent Neo100 and the clinical stability of the patient. The primary outcome of this study is the percentage mask leak. A research team member will record data for primary and secondary outcome. The event will be filmed for post-hoc video analysis. The outcome assessor will be blinded to the group allocation. This research project will take place over 24 months, with an interim analysis to ensure recruitment is projected to achieve sample size.

Interventions

PROCEDURETwo-handed facemask hold

Two-handed mask hold technique while giving facemask ventilation, with another operator designated to deliver PIP via the T-piece.

PROCEDUREControl: One-handed facemask hold

One-handed mask hold technique while giving facemask ventilation, with the same operator holding the mask and delivering PPV via the T-piece.

Sponsors

University College Dublin
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

This is an unblinded study as it is not possible to blind the provider to the type of mask hold. However, the operators will be blinded to the respiratory function monitor measurements feedback. This will be achieved by obscuring the colour sensor with brown, opaque tape and covering the Monivent screen. The outcome assessor will be blinded to the group allocation.

Intervention model description

Parallel group randomised controlled trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* All term and preterm neonates in the neonatal unit who the clinical team have decided to intubate, with or without pre-medication and who require mask ventilation prior to intubation attempt.

Exclusion criteria

* Neonates with a congenital malformation that would impact mask seal will not be included.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mask leakOver a maximum of 20 minutesMask leak percentage, as measured by the Monivent Respiratory Function Monitor (RFM). Collected over a minimum of 5 breaths. Maximum of 2 episodes of facemask ventilation will be collected, with values averaged.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Lowest oxygen saturationOver a maximum of 20 minutesLowest oxygen saturation detected on the bedside clinical monitoring (Philips Intellivue MX800) during the period of facemask ventilation, recorded by a member of the research team.
Highest supplemental FiO2 used during facemask ventilationOver a maximum of 20 minutesHighest percentage FiO2 used during the period of facemask ventilation, as indicated by the set dial on the Neopuff.
Positive inspiratory pressure during facemask ventilationOver a maximum of 20 minutesPositive inspiratory pressure used during the period of facemask ventilation, as measured by the Monivent Neo100 respiratory function monitor.
Percentage of obstructed breaths during facemask ventilationOver a maximum of 20 minutesPercentage of obstructed breaths during the period of facemask ventilation, as measured by the Monivent Neo100 respiratory function monitor.
Tidal volume during facemask ventilationOver a maximum of 20 minutesMeasured tidal volume during the period of facemask ventilation, as measured by the Monivent Neo100 respiratory function monitor.
Number of times facemask position is adjusted during facemask ventilationOver a maximum of 20 minutesNumber of times clinical team needs to adjust mask position during the period of facemask ventilation.
Duration of facemask ventilationOver a maximum of 20 minutesTime duration of facemask ventilation
Crossover to other handholdOver a maximum of 20 minutesIf allocated two-handed hold: Number of times clinical team elect to switch to one-handed hold. If allocated one-handed hold: Number of times clinical team elect to switch to two-handed hold.
User opinion of mask holdOver a maximum of 20 minutesSurvey of operator opinions about mask hold used, and their usual preference.
Lowest heart rateOver a maximum of 20 minutesLowest heart rate detected on the bedside clinical monitoring (Philips Intellivue MX800) during the period of facemask ventilation, recorded by a member of the research team.

Countries

Ireland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 13, 2026