Several projects in high altitude research in environments with a low oxygen partial pressure (hypobaric hypoxia) leading to hypoxemia showed, that cerebral perfusion and cerebral performance could be improved by adding C02 (cabon dioxide).
The investigators hypothesize that adding 5% C02 to 02 (Oxygen) also under normobaric conditions increases the time until a significant cerebral hyopxia is measured by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) compared to the administration of 95% 02.
lf this hypothesis proves to be true, this approach might be used in situations in which individuals are prone to cerebral hypoxia. In bariatric surgery, patients that experience an apnea phase are more prone to (cerebral) hypoxia due to the fact, that they have a higher body mass index (BMI) leading to a reduced functional residual capacity (FRC), which serves as the oxygen reserve in the body.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients who are designated for bariatric surgery at the University Hospital Zurich (USZ)
* Informed Consent as documented by signature
* BMI \>35 kg/m2
Exclusion Criteria:
* Severe end-organ damage: chronic obstuctive pulmonary disease (COPD) GOLD (cassification) III and IV, known hepatic insufficiency or elevated liver enzymes, renal creatinine clearance \<30ml/min
* Severe cardiovascular disease (NYHA classification III and IV)
* Known pulmonary Hypertension
* Cerebrovascular disease
* Pregnancy and lactation
* Cardiac dysrhythmias
* acidosis, chronic pulmonary disease
* Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Time to decrease of tissue oxygenation index by 20 %