Hypercapnia and Gas Exchange Under the Avalanche Snow Model (HyperAvaSM)

Czech Technical University in Prague

Status: Completed

Conditions: Accident Caused by Snow Avalanche

Treatments: Device: air pocket; Other: Breathing in the simulated avalanche snow.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02521272

VentRes-2015-01-KR

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of the study is to investigate respiratory parameters of a person in the simulated avalanche snow and consequent use of the measured data for development of a mathematical-physical model of breathing during increasing hypercapnia in the avalanche.

Full description

The study is a part of a university research project aimed at studying physiological conditions and development of breathing parameters of a person breathing in the simulated avalanche snow. Presence of an air pocket and its size play an important role in survival of victims buried in the avalanche snow. Even small air pockets facilitate breathing, yet they do not provide a significant amount of fresh air for breathing. The investigators hypothesize that the size of the air pocket significantly affects the airflow resistance and work of breathing. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of the air pocket volume on gas exchange and work of breathing in subjects breathing into the simulated avalanche snow and to test, whether it is possible to breathe with zero air pocket.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 20 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants were volunteers from the Czech Army forces, studying at the Military Department of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague. All subjects were healthy and fit, classified as ASA I, all without a smoking history. The volunteers were highly motivated to participate in the experiment. The entrance examination, completed before the start of the study, included these tests: electrocardiography, blood pressure, spirometry, and assessment of the health conditions and family anamnesis by a physician with a specialty in anesthesia and critical care.

Exclusion criteria

• The exclusion criteria were Tiffeneau Index less than 0.70 and any cardiovascular or respiratory condition.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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12 participants in 1 patient group

air pocket

Experimental group

Description:

Breathing in the simulated avalanche snow.

Treatment:

Device: air pocket

Other: Breathing in the simulated avalanche snow.