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Clinical Trial Summary

The literature describes and report neurologic intact patients surviving an avalanche several hours after they were buried. The most important factor for surviving more than 15-35 min of burial is considered to be the presence of an air-filled space around the head and neck, termed an air pocket. Little is known how the inspired air is influenced by the patients breathing and how oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse through snow.


Clinical Trial Description

In a controlled and simulated avalanche scenario the investigators want to investigate how oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) diffuse and how rebreathing of CO2 in addition to mild hypoxia influence standardized physiological parameters in two scenarios: Fresh air and no fresh air delivered into the air pocket. The project is a field study designed to measure and document gas diffusion through snow. The outcome measures are: (1) Concentration of O2 and CO2 in the air pocket and 50 cm from the pocket. (2) Time interval for development of threshold values for concentration of O2 and CO2. The investigators will also monitor physiologic measures such as: Electrocardiogram (ECG), continuous invasive blood pressure, cerebral oximetry, continuous pulse oximetry, transthoracic impedance, and gas content in expired air. Subjective evaluation of comfort will also be scored. Twenty healthy young volunteers with written consent to participate will be used as test subjects.

The study may have a clinical consequence for better outcome, for victims of avalanches by providing additional air or oxygen close to the patient. We will also measure specific body measures and spirometry. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03911011
Study type Interventional
Source Haukeland University Hospital
Contact Oyvind Thomassen, PhD
Phone +4797718721
Email oyvt@helse-bergen.no
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date March 7, 2019
Completion date June 20, 2021

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Active, not recruiting NCT04835545 - Work of Breathing Under Extreme Hypercapnia Induced by Ventilation Insufficiency N/A
Completed NCT02521272 - Hypercapnia and Gas Exchange Under the Avalanche Snow Model (HyperAvaSM) N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03413878 - Snow Properties and Its Modeling for Studying Gas Exchange Under the Simulated Avalanche Snow N/A
Enrolling by invitation NCT05262894 - Evaluation of Gas Propagation in Snow During Breathing of Subjects Under Simulated Avalanche Snow N/A