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Cricoid PressureNCT06540625

Validation of a Novel Handheld Device for Accurate Cricoid Pressure in Healthy Volunteers

An observational study of Cricoid Pressure, run by University Health Network, Toronto.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a leading cause of anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality, particularly in emergency surgeries and among patients who are not appropriately fasted prior to airway intervention. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Cricoid Pressure
What is being tested?
the use of CP device application on human subjects.
Type of treatment
Medical device
How many people
63 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
1 Jan 2025to 1 May 2025
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: * Participants Participants will include staff volunteers from the Department of Anesthesia at two participating hospitals. A recruitment email will be distributed by the site study Research Coordinator to the department staff including research staff, administrative staff, anesthesia staff, anesthesia assistants, fellows, residents, and nurses. * Providers Providers will include volunteers from perioperative staff consisting of operating room nurses, anesthesia staff, anesthesia assistants, fellows and residents who perform CP during RSI at the participating hospital. Perioperative staff who have previously applied CP or received training in CP will be included in this study.

Who may be able to join

  • Anesthesia department staff Volunteers Participants
  • Perioperative staff Volunteers Providers

Who cannot join

  • Participants with skin problems, such as eczema or psoriasis
  • Participants who is pregnant
  • Participants with a history of neck or throat injury or anatomical abnormality

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

About this study

Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a leading cause of anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality, particularly in emergency surgeries and among patients who are not appropriately fasted prior to airway intervention. The application of cricoid pressure (CP), also known as the "Sellick maneuver" is the current clinical practice to prevent aspiration of gastric content during Rapid-sequence induction (RSI) of general anesthesia. This conventional CP uses manual pressure over the cricoid cartilage during RSI procedure for patients at high risk of aspiration. Since its incorporation into clinical practice, the utility and technique of CP have garnered considerable debate, mainly due to the inability to standardize the magnitude and consistency of the applied force. Too little force may be ineffective at preventing regurgitation and excessive force may impede ventilation and actually worsen laryngoscopy views, making intubation more difficult.

A significant challenge in current clinical practice of CP is the inconsistency in the force applied, which often falls short of the necessary intensity and duration. To address this issue, we developed a groundbreaking handheld device capable of monitoring applied pressure in real-time, aiding providers in delivering precise and reproducible CP. Furthermore, our device utilizes sensor fabrication technology, integrating microelectronic systems and microprocessors to measure and display force in real-time, all while remaining portable. However, before implementation in clinical practice, rigorous testing through human volunteer studies and subsequent clinical trials is imperative. Hence, this study aims to validate the efficacy of our novel CP device in helping Providers apply the accurate target force.

Read the detailed description

The investigators have developed a clinically robust, customizable, handheld device that incorporates a micro load cell (a sensor to measure force) and Arduino processor (a small circuit board) in order to apply accurate and reproducible CP. The novel device contains a compression/tension micro load cell (model: TAS520-5kg HT Sensor Technology Co. Ltd.) that is incorporated into a 3D printed CP application system (Figure 1). The 3D printed cricoid neck pad is designed based on average cricoid cartilage dimensions.16 The device is designed for testing forces in the range of 0-5 kg (~50 N). The load cell system is then attached to an Arduino circuit board, HX711 load cell amplification circuit and LCD digital display that are all encased in a 3D printed enclosure. The device has a microdisc port for internal memory that allows transfer of data for further backup and analysis. The device uses a rechargeable battery for ease of use and portability. The Force (N) is displayed on the LCD screen to give the user the exact force being applied in real time.

Being tested
the use of CP device application on human subjects.

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • the use of CP device application on human subjects.Device

    Trained providers will be asked to apply CP at 10N of force to the marked location using the cricoid applicator for one minute. Data relating to applied force across the whole one minute will be measured continuously and will be captured and stored. The CP device will have a microdisc port for internal memory and then the wifi on the board will transfer the information to a cloud server for backup and storage for redundancy.

    A threshold of 10 ± 2 N applied force will be set to define successful CP attempts. Participants must remain in this range for 95% of the trial time after the first five seconds have passed.

    At any point during the CP application, if the volunteer experiences pain, they can request that the pressure be stopped. However, we do not expect any pain with 10N, except for minor discomfort.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Assess whether the Providers can use the CP device with an accurate target force and maintain the force in an acceptable range over one minute.

    We set a target of 10N force for the study, with an acceptable range of 10N ± 2N.

    Measured: one day

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Usability of the device based on feedback from both Participants and Providers

    Proportion of Providers who think CP device will be useful in clinical practice

    Measured: one day

  2. Effectiveness of the video training based on feedback from Providers

    Proportion of Providers who think the video training was useful

    Measured: One day

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Aug 2024
  2. Study start1 Jan 2025 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Apr 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 May 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
63 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06540625
Sponsor's protocol ID
4991
Status last verified
Dec 2024
First submitted
2 Aug 2024
Last updated
11 Dec 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Cricoid Pressure, run by University Health Network, Toronto.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Dec 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Emad A Al Azazi, MD (4166035800 ext. 2508, emad.al-azazi@uhn.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Assess whether the Providers can use the CP device with an accurate target force and maintain the force in an acceptable range over one minute. (time frame: one day). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Dec 2024.

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