One hundred percent oxygen versus titrated oxygen following the return of a heartbeat after out of hospital cardiac arrest: a feasibility study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN49548506 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN49548506 |
| Protocol serial number | 17764 |
| Sponsor | University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research |
- Submission date
- 21/11/2016
- Registration date
- 24/11/2016
- Last edited
- 29/01/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Circulatory System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heartbeat and breathing stop suddenly. It is one of the most extreme medical emergencies. Health outcomes are poor; less than 1 in 10 patients survive to be discharged from hospital. This study will be focusing on the stage when a patient regains a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), this is when the heart has started beating again after CPR by the ambulance service. Even when successfully resuscitated and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), only about 30% of patients survive to leave hospital. Changing the use of oxygen following the return of a heartbeat after cardiac arrest has the potential to increase survival. Previously, the maximum possible amount of oxygen has been given to patients after cardiac arrest, but it is possible that using less oxygen would improve the survival rate. Expert opinion is divided, and there is currently no research about how much oxygen should be given to patients immediately after a cardiac arrest. Traditionally, patients who have suffered cardiac arrest have been given unrestricted, 100% oxygen however some research suggests that varying the oxygen level given according to the patient’s measured oxygen levels may be more effective. The aim of this study is to conduct a small study looking at the use of these two methods in order to find out if it is possible to recruit participants to a larger study.
Who can participate?
Paramedics employed full-time by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST) on front-line operational duties, and who are based in Bristol or Bath and patients who have had a cardiac arrest.
What does the study involve?
Paramedics who consent to take part in the study are randomly allocated to one of the two groups. Those in the first group are asked to administer 100 percent oxygen to patients. Those in the second group are asked to administer a variable level of oxygen according to the patient’s measured oxygen levels. In both groups this is maintained for one hour following the achievement of sustained ROSC. Where applicable it is continued by doctors in the Emergency Department. Patients that survive and agree to active follow up are asked to complete questionnaires on their health related quality of life and cognitive function (mental processing) at hospital discharge and 90 days after their cardiac arrest. At the end of the study the costs of each treatment are also compared.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Paramedics will benefit from additional training in resuscitation and evidence based practice during the study. It is generally recognised that patients enrolled in research studies tend to have better outcomes than those not enrolled. It is possible that one study arm will prove to be superior to the other, but this is currently unknown. There are no notable risks involved with participating.
Where is the study run from?
1. South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
2. Bristol Royal Infirmary (UK)
3. Royal United Hospital Bath (UK)
4. Southmead Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2014 to October 2015
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Sarah Voss
sarah.voss@uwe.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
University of the West of England
Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences
Glenside Campus (1H14)
Blackberry Hill
Bristol
BS16 1DD
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-5044-5145 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 117 32 88906 |
| sarah.voss@uwe.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Other |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Cluster randomised comparison of the effectiveness of 100% oxygen versus titrated oxygen in patients with a sustained return of spontaneous circulation following out of hospital cardiac arrest: a feasibility study |
| Study acronym | CAIRO WPC: PROXY |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of completing a cluster-randomised clinical trial to determine if titrated oxygen therapy (target SpO2 94-98%) for one hour after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) improves outcome (including survival and quality of life at hospital discharge and 90 days following out of hospital cardiac arrest) compared with the use of 100% oxygen in out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES Committee South Central - Oxford C, 23/12/2014, ref: 14/SC/1269 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Specialty: Injuries and emergencies, Primary sub-specialty: Injuries and emergencies |
| Intervention | Paramedics employed full-time by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST) on front-line operational duties, and who are based in Bristol or Bath, will be invited to participate in the study through a process of informed consent. All out of hospital cardiac arrest patients attended by a PROXY paramedic are automatically enrolled in the study. Paramedics who consent to take part in the study will be randomly allocated, to one of the two study arms. Arm 1: Paramedics will be asked to administer either 100 percent oxygen in patients with a sustained (greater than 2 minutes) ROSC following OHCA. Arm 2: Paramedics will be asked to administer a variable level of oxygen according to the patient’s measured oxygen levels, in patients with a sustained (greater than 2 minutes) ROSC following OHCA. The intervention will be maintained for one hour following the achievement of sustained ROSC. Where applicable the intervention will be continued by doctors in the Emergency Department. Patients that survive and agree to active follow up will be asked to complete questionnaires on their health related quality of life and cognitive function at hospital discharge and 90 days after their OHCA. At the end of the study we will compare treatment costs. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Recruitment rate is measured as the proportion of eligible paramedics attending training and consenting to take part at the end of the recruitment period. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Proportion of surviving participants providing quality of life data at discharge and 90 days is measured by the number of patients completing the modified Rankin Scale, EuroQol EQ-5D-5L and the SF-36 instruments at discharge and 90 days following OHCA |
| Completion date | 31/10/2015 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 81 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Sustained a cardiac arrest in the pre-hospital setting believed to be of a non-traumatic cause. Cardiac arrest will be defined according to the Utstein Definition as "the cessation of cardiac mechanical activity as confirmed by the absence of signs of circulation. If an EMS provider or physician did not witness the cardiac arrest, he/she may be uncertain as to whether a cardiac arrest actually occurred." For the purposes of this study, patients will be eligible for inclusion if they are attended by ambulance staff and are believed by those staff to have suffered a cardiac arrest. 2. ROSC (indicated by signs of circulation: usually a palpable central or peripheral pulse) for greater than 2 minutes (sustained ROSC) has been achieved 3. Attended by a paramedic participating in the trial 4. Known, or believed to be, 18 years of age, or older |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Less than 18 years old 2. Cardiac arrest believed to have been caused by trauma (including hanging and drowning) 3. Entered into the study previously 4. Detained by Her Majesty's Prison Service |
| Date of first enrolment | 13/01/2015 |
| Date of final enrolment | 12/07/2015 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Eagle Way
Exeter
EX2 7HY
United Kingdom
Bristol
BS2 8HW
United Kingdom
Avon
BA1 3NG
United Kingdom
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 25/01/2019 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
29/01/2019: Publication reference added.
