CompletedNot Applicable

Tourniquets Increase Proximal Pressure

United States27 participantsStarted 2022-02-01

Plain-language summary

There is an urgent clinical need to improve survival and neurologic outcomes after cardiac arrest. When a patient goes into cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with chest compressions is the current standard of care treatment to mechanically circulate blood through the patient's body. The immediate and long-term success of CPR is critically dependent on the maintenance of adequate coronary and cerebral perfusion. The investigators propose that CPR outcomes can be improved by capitalizing on the innate mechanism of vasoconstriction and preferentially routing the limited oxygenated blood to the heart and brain. The proposed solution is occlusion of extremity vasculature will increase coronary and cerebral perfusion and improve patient outcomes after cardiac arrest. Prior research has investigated the efficacy of manipulating peripheral vascular resistance with tourniquets in animal studies with improved cardiac and cerebral perfusion and survival. To prove this is an adequate solution in humans, the investigators plan to use tourniquets on the legs to occlude the peripheral vasculature in healthy humans and measure more proximal blood pressure before and after tourniquet deployment. Proof of concept of this solution will make way for development of novel devices for use during cardiac arrest and CPR to improve heart and brain perfusion and ultimately improve cardiac arrest outcomes. The investigators will recruit 30 healthy human participants and measure their blood pressure in their arm. They will then place two commercially-available, FDA-approved tourniquets around each thigh to stop blood flow to the legs. The investigators will measure the blood pressure in the arms again. They will then release the tourniquets after blood pressure measurement. This will be repeated three times with breaks between each repetition.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 60 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: * Healthy adults with no known chronic medical conditions between the ages of 18 and 60 years old willing and able to consent themselves. * Subjects who are native English speakers or self-report as fluent in English. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who have a history of or are a current smoker, have a history of or current illicit drug use, have a history of or current alcohol abuse. * Subjects who self-report as pregnant. * Subjects who self-report diabetes, cardiac disease including hypertension requiring medication, or a history of compartment syndrome or peripheral vascular disease. * Subjects with known chronic diseases not listed above, including but not limited to Rheumatoid Arthritis, McArdle's disease, etc. * Subjects with elevated blood pressure (\>130/80mmHg) on the day of the study

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

Systolic Blood Pressure During Application of the CAT Tourniquets

Timeframe: the average of 3 repetitions is reported; the duration of each tourniquet application was 5 minutes and participants rested 3-5 minutes between each repetition

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05324306

SponsorMedical University of South Carolina

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-06-01

Results submitted2024-05-23

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