Hyperbaric Oxygen and Outcome After Below Knee Amputations

August 7, 2025 updated by: Duke University

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Prevent Complications After Lower Limb Amputation

This study is being conducted to assess the utility of hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunctive treatment to reduce postoperative complications. It is hypothesized that HBO2 given in the immediate postoperative period will reduce postoperative complications in patients undergoing below-the-knee amputations. The objective of this study will be to compare treatment and standard care groups, randomly created of eligible patients, to compare their postoperative complications and to assess their postoperative hospital length of stay, 90-day mortality, failure to heal at 4 and 8 week follow-up visits and ability to ambulate with a prosthesis at 6 months post amputation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

This is a clinical study to test the hypothesis that Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO2) given in the immediate postoperative period for a total of 10 treatments after Below-the-Knee Amputation (BKA) for vascular disease will reduce postoperative complications. Patients scheduled for BKA at Duke University Medical Center will be reviewed for contraindications to HBO2. Patients for whom HBO2 is not contraindicated may choose to be enrolled in the study. Patients enrolled will be randomly assigned to receive treatment or standard postoperative care. Each patient receiving treatment will receive twice daily HBO2 for 2 hours at breathing 100% oxygen at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA). Patients receiving HBO2 will breathe 100% oxygen via head tent while inside a hyperbaric chamber at Duke University Hospital. The statistical plan for this study will test non-directional hypotheses (two-sided tests). Bonferroni correction will be used to adjust for multiple tests. The main analysis of the primary efficacy hypotheses will include data from all randomized patients in the group to which random assignment is made. Hence, the analysis will be intention to treat. This study will primarily aim to assess whether patients receiving treatment suffer fewer complications, as defined by the Vascular Quality Initiative, vs. patients who receive standard care. The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) is a multicenter voluntary reporting system for outcomes related to vascular surgery. The primary outcome of this study, postoperative complications, will be those outcomes meeting the definition set out in the VQI data dictionary, the set of definitions for inclusion in the VQI database. This allows for a standard definition of complications recognized by a majority of US academic medical centers. Secondary outcomes include hospital length of stay, 90-day mortality, failure to heal at 4 and 8 week follow-up visits and ability to ambulate with a prosthesis at 6 months post amputation.

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.
4

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.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
        • Duke University Medical Center

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Able to consent
  • Non-traumatic indication for lower limb amputation
  • Able to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to consent
  • Contraindication to hyperbaric oxygen
  • End stage renal disease on dialysis
  • Current renal failure as measured by creatinine levels vs baseline change of more than 1 mg/dL and for whom dialysis is expected to be required with the next month
  • Calciphylaxis
  • Traumatic injuries that are the cause of the amputation
  • Cancer being treated by chemotherapy, scheduled to be treated, or being treated or scheduled to be treated by radiation.
  • Limb amputation secondary to ischemic complications from other operations
  • Second amputation or reoperation on prior amputation
  • Pregnancy

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: None (Open Label)

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: Hyperbaric Oxygen Plus Regular Care
Hyperbaric oxygen (2 hours at 2 atmospheres absolute) to be administered 1-2 times daily for up to 10 treatments after amputation. Usual care for patients with amputation (dressing changes and treatment of infection) will be administered in parallel.
Drug: Hyperbaric Oxygen
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) 1-2 times daily for up to 10 times after amputation
Other Names:
  • HBO2
No Intervention: Regular Care
Usual care for patients with amputation, including dressing changes and treatment of infection.

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
Number of Participants With Mortality During the Inpatient Period
Time Frame: During inpatient stay immediately after amputation, up to 13 days
During inpatient stay immediately after amputation, up to 13 days
Number of Participants With Re-operation
Time Frame: Up to 90 days after amputation
Unplanned return to the OR (operating room) for a surgical procedure
Up to 90 days after amputation
Number of Participants With Wound Infection
Time Frame: Up to 90 days after amputation
Any wound site infection that was culture positive or required antibiotic treatment
Up to 90 days after amputation

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hospital Length of Stay
Time Frame: up to approximately 30 days
Hospital length of stay immediately after amputation
up to approximately 30 days
Number of Participants With 90-day Mortality
Time Frame: Up to 90 days after amputation
Death within 90 days after amputation
Up to 90 days after amputation
Number of Participants With Complete Healing of Amputation Wound Healing at 4 Weeks Following Surgery
Time Frame: 4 weeks after amputation
Complete wound healing at 4 weeks after amputation
4 weeks after amputation
Number of Participants With Complete Healing of Amputation Wound Healing at 8 Weeks Following Surgery
Time Frame: 8 weeks after amputation
Complete wound healing at 8 weeks after amputation
8 weeks after amputation
Number of Participants Able to Ambulate With Prosthesis
Time Frame: 6 months after amputation
Ability to ambulate with a prosthesis at 6 months post amputation
6 months after amputation

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Hospital Readmission
Time Frame: Up to 90 days after amputation
Any readmission to hospital after initial discharge
Up to 90 days after amputation

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.
Duke University

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 (Actual)

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.
January 1, 2021

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.
July 31, 2023

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 31, 2023

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 13, 2021

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.
January 19, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

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.
January 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
August 11, 2025

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.
August 7, 2025

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.
August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • Pro00093687

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

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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