Does Cricoid Pressure Reduce the Risk of Aspiration?

December 30, 2015 updated by: John (J Kyle) K. Bohman, M.D., Mayo Clinic
In modern anesthesia practice, the application of cricoid pressure during intubation is not infrequently used with the goal of preventing gastric-to-pulmonary aspiration. The evidence to support this practice is very scarce, and there have recently been many reports in the literature questioning the safety of cricoid pressure during intubation. Therefore, the goal of this study will be to randomize those at risk for microaspiration to receive cricoid pressure versus no cricoid pressure during intubation. We will specifically exclude those patients thought to be at the highest risk of aspiration (it is considered standard of care to perform cricoid pressure during intubation of this population). We will include those patients with some risk factors for aspiration (it is not considered standard of care to apply cricoid pressure during intubation of this population).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Gastric-to-pulmonary aspiration during induction of anesthesia remains a significant risk in the modern practice of anesthesia.(1) Macroaspiration (grossly visible aspiration) has been clearly associated with severe pulmonary injury.(1-4) More recently, microaspiration (aspiration without grossly visible gastric material) has also been associated with significant morbidity.(2) Specifically, microaspiration has been associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)(5), ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP)(6) and acute respiratory failure due to bronchoconstriction and ventilation-perfusion mismatching. Pepsin A has been shown to be a very specific biochemical marker for gastric-to-pulmonary aspiration.(7) In our previous studies, we demonstrated the rate of microaspiration in normal elective surgical patients without risk factors for aspiration was 4% as detected by the ELISA assay for pepsin A.(8) This compared with a rate of 12.5% in patients with risk factors for microaspiration including obesity, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and diabetes. One proposed technique to prevent gastric-to-pulmonary aspiration is cricoid pressure. Recently, there has been growing evidence which calls into question the effectiveness of cricoid pressure. Radiologic studies by Smith et al yield indirect evidence to suggest that cricoid pressure may not reliably occlude the esophagus.(9,10) Currently, cricoid pressure for patients with risk factors for microaspiration (obesity, GERD and diabetes) is used commonly but inconsistently.(11) By using the same sampling and analysis techniques employed in our previous microaspiration studies, the currently proposed study will provide a very sensitive and specific assessment of the effectiveness of cricoid pressure to prevent aspiration during elective induction of anesthesia and intubation. Our proposed study would enroll patients with risk factors for microaspiration who are scheduled to undergo high-risk (for pulmonary complications) elective surgery requiring endotracheal intubation. We will exclude those with risk factors for macroaspiration (including bowel obstruction, non-fasting status and esophageal pathology associated with increased risk for macroaspiration such as achalasia and hiatal hernia), because cricoid pressure remains the standard of care for those at risk for macroaspiration at our institution. Those patients enrolled will be randomized to receive cricoid pressure versus no cricoid pressure. Immediately following elective intubation, a sample of tracheal secretions from each patient will be obtained and the pepsin A concentration determined. The primary outcome will be the rate of microaspiration determined by the presence of pepsin A in the trachea. Secondary outcomes of interest will be rates of postoperative pulmonary complications including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). The findings of this study will provide the most direct evidence yet regarding the effectiveness of cricoid pressure for the prevention of gastric-to-pulmonary aspiration during induction of anesthesia and endotracheal intubation. Ultimately, the findings of this study will improve patient safety by providing accurate prospective evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of cricoid pressure in this setting, and will further explore the clinical significance of microaspiration.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
95

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Mayo Clinic in Rochester
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Mayo Clinic - Saint Mary's Campus

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Obesity (BMI>30)
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • schedule cardiac, aortic vascular or non-cardiac thoracic procedure

Exclusion criteria:

  • emergent surgery
  • risk factors for macroaspiration (non-fasting status, bowel obstruction, achalasia, hiatal hernia, esophageal stricture, esophageal diverticulum), altered level of consciousness, known pregnancy
  • preoperative ARDS
  • preoperative pneumonia

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Cricoid pressure
Patients randomized to receive cricoid pressure during endotracheal intubation.
Procedure: Cricoid pressure
Firm pressure on the cricoid cartilage with the goal of occluding the esophagus during endotracheal intubation.
No Intervention: No cricoid pressure
Patients randomized to receive no cricoid pressure during endotracheal intubation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Rate of microaspiration
Time Frame: Within 15 minutes of intubation
Tracheal secretions will be collected and later analyzed for the presence of pepsin A.
Within 15 minutes of intubation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Rate of ARDS
Time Frame: Within 7 days of intubation
Within 7 days of intubation

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Rate of hospital acquired pneumonia
Time Frame: Within 7 days of intubation
Within 7 days of intubation

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Mayo Clinic

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: John Bohman, MD, Mayo Clinic

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 26, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 6, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 7, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 1, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 30, 2015

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 13-003837

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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