Pre-flight Titration of Supplemental Oxygen

Ullevaal University Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Treatments: Other: Pre-flight test with supplemental oxygen

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01019538

897

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate if supplemental oxygen during air travel can be reliably titrated using a Hypoxia-altitude simulation test (HAST). Also, the effect of oxygen supplementation given with the various oxygen equipment allowed for air travel is studied.

Full description

International guidelines recommend supplemental oxygen if PaO2 < 6.7 kPa (50 mmHg) during air travel. Hypobaric chamber exposure is the ideal test but is not widely available. In clinical practice, the HAST has been recommended as the preferable test for pre-flight evaluation, and is used with increasing frequency. The oxygen dose during air travel has been recommended titrated during HAST. In the study, supplemental oxygen titration during hypobaric chamber exposure is compared to oxygen titration during HAST, to evaluate if HAST can be used with confidence to titrate the amount of supplemental oxygen needed during air travel.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• COPD patients who have performed a Hypoxia-altitude simulation test with a PaO2 < 6.7 kPa

Exclusion criteria

• exacerbation or pneumothorax within the previous six weeks
• LTOT
• anemia
• pulmonary disease other than COPD
• cerebrovascular or symptomatic cardiovascular disease
• claustrophobia
• inability to equalize pressure in the middle ear