Effect of Cryotherapy Modalities on Skin Temperature, Radial Artery Size and Flow Where Arterial Puncture Are Performed (ECCRIOGAS)
August 17, 2025 updated by: Julio Alberto Mateos Arroyo
Analysis of the Effect of Different Cryotherapy Procedures on the Radial Puncture Site for Blood Gas Analysis Randomized Controlled Trial
Low-intervention clinical trial. The thermal and hemodynamic effects of different cryotherapy devices are evaluated. This study is included in the doctoral thesis of the principal investigator.
Investigators:
Principal Investigator: Julio Alberto Mateos Arroyo (RN, MSc, PhD student) Directors: Ignacio Zaragoza García (RN, PhD), Ismael Ortuño Soriano (RN, PhD), Paloma Posada Moreno (PhD).
Setting: Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
The three interventions to be evaluated are:
- Applying crushed ice.
- Apply frozen peas.
- Apply comparator.
Hypothesis: There are differences in the reduction of temperature, dimensions of the internal lumen of the radial artery and blood flow inside it depending on the different modalities of cryotherapy (crushed ice or bag of frozen peas) applied in the anatomical area of the wrist, point of arterial puncture for blood gas analysis.
Main objective: To analyze the effect of 3 cryotherapy devices on the radial artery area.
Secondary objectives
- To analyze the thermal behavior of the superficial tissue under study according to the cryotherapy device used.
- To analyze the differences in the radial artery caliber before and after the application of cold in the different experimental modalities under study.
- To analyze the differences in radial artery blood flow before and after the application of cold in the different experimental modalities under study.
- To identify the safety pattern of the use of the different cryotherapy devices (adverse events).
Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. This is a crossover clinical trial in which all participants will receive all interventions and will be randomized in the order in which they receive them.
Population: Adults with a good general state of health, who specifically do not have factors that could affect their thermoregulation or vascular pathologies.
Main variables:
- Skin surface temperature.
- Radial artery size.
- Radial artery blood flow.
Study Overview
Status
Suspended
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Pain caused by arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is one of the most common problems with this procedure.
The low utilization rates of effective methods by healthcare providers for pain reduction, such as subcutaneous infiltration of anesthetics, make it necessary to search for effective and simple methods.
The use of cryotherapy devices has proven effective for this purpose because the decrease in temperature increases pain threshold and tolerance due to a reduction in nerve conduction velocity and inhibition of nociceptors.
In order to standardize these devices, it is necessary to understand the specific thermodynamic and hemodynamic effects of these devices.
At the hemodynamic level, the reduction in temperature can produce arterial vasoconstriction.
This effect may decrease the palpation of the radial artery, a necessary step for the identification of the optimal point of arterial puncture.
Our hypothesis is that there are differences in temperature reduction, radial artery internal lumen dimensions and blood flow inside the radial artery depending on the different cryotherapy modalities applied in the anatomical area of the wrist, the point of arterial puncture for blood gas analysis.
In order to obtain an answer to this hypothesis, we will propose a randomized controlled clinical trial with a sham comparator and two active interventions: crushed ice and frozen peas.
In addition, this trial has a crossover design with the aim of minimizing the differences that may arise due to individual particularities (within-group variability), and thus increase the possible effect of the interventions (between-group variability).
This choice has its justification in that the application of cryotherapy, according to some studies, has a thermal reducing effect with high individual variability.
In this study, adults with a good general state of health, who specifically do not have factors that could affect their thermoregulation or vascular pathologies, will be recruited.
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
48
Phase
- 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
-
-
Toledo
-
Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain, 45600
- Gerencia de Atención Integrada de Talavera de la Reina
-
-
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
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Good general health.
- Conscientious, with full cognitive and communicative capacity.
- Signed informed consent for this randomized clinical trial.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Active smoker.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Peripheral vascular disease.
- Cyanosis of hands and fingers, Raynaud's Syndrome, Scleroderma and/or CREST Syndrome.
- Diabetes.
- Surgery, recent wounds or any type of major injury affecting the neck, shoulder girdle, upper limbs and/or hands.
- Carrier of an arterio-venous fistula.
- Lack of sensitivity to cold.
- Alcohol or caffeine intake in the last 24 hours.
- Intense physical exercise in the last 24 hours.
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: Supportive Care
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Order number 1: Ice-Peas-Control
Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order.
In this arm the sequence order is: crushed ice - frozen peas - control.
|
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.
Other Names:
|
|
Experimental: Order number 2: Ice-Control-Peas
Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order.
In this arm the sequence order is: crushed ice - control - frozen peas.
|
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.
Other Names:
|
|
Experimental: Order number 3: Peas-Ice-Control
Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order.
In this arm the sequence order is: frozen peas - crushed ice - control.
|
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.
Other Names:
|
|
Experimental: Order number 4: Peas-Control-Ice
Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order.
In this arm the sequence order is: frozen peas - control - crushed ice.
|
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.
Other Names:
|
|
Experimental: Order number 5: Control-Ice-Peas
Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order.
In this arm the sequence order is: control - crushed ice - frozen peas.
|
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.
Other Names:
|
|
Experimental: Order number 6: Control-Peas-Ice
Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order.
In this arm the sequence order is: control - frozen peas - crushed ice.
|
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.
Other Names:
Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.
The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature.
This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.
Other Names:
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Skin temperature
Time Frame: Prior to application of the intervention
|
Surface temperature measurements will be taken at different times since the application of the interventions.
The thermal camera FLIR TG267 will be used, temperature range: -25ºC to 380ºC, sensitivity <70ºC mK, resolution 160 X 120.
|
Prior to application of the intervention
|
|
Skin temperature
Time Frame: After 5 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
Surface temperature measurements will be taken at different times since the application of the interventions.
The thermal camera FLIR TG267 will be used, temperature range: -25ºC to 380ºC, sensitivity <70ºC mK, resolution 160 X 120.
|
After 5 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
|
Skin temperature
Time Frame: After 10 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
Surface temperature measurements will be taken at different times since the application of the interventions.
The thermal camera FLIR TG267 will be used, temperature range: -25ºC to 380ºC, sensitivity <70ºC mK, resolution 160 X 120.
|
After 10 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
|
Skin temperature
Time Frame: After 15 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
Surface temperature measurements will be taken at different times since the application of the interventions.
The thermal camera FLIR TG267 will be used, temperature range: -25ºC to 380ºC, sensitivity <70ºC mK, resolution 160 X 120.
|
After 15 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
|
Skin temperature
Time Frame: After 20 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
Surface temperature measurements will be taken at different times since the application of the interventions.
The thermal camera FLIR TG267 will be used, temperature range: -25ºC to 380ºC, sensitivity <70ºC mK, resolution 160 X 120.
|
After 20 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in radial artery size
Time Frame: 0-20 minutes
|
Three measurements of the anteroposterior diameter of the radial artery will be taken in the same place and plane to ensure reliability at each time point studied.
Samsung HS50 ultrasound scanner with a 3-14 Hz linear probe will be used for the measurement.
|
0-20 minutes
|
|
Change in radial artery blood flow
Time Frame: 0-20 minutes
|
To obtain the blood flow of the radial artery, color Doppler mode will be used to correctly identify the vessel and then the pulsed Doppler mode will be used to obtain the peak systolic low (PSV), that is, the maximum systolic velocity (VSM).
Three consecutive PSV measurements will be obtained in the same place and plane to ensure reliability at each time point studied.
Samsung HS50 ultrasound scanner with a 3-14 Hz linear probe will be used for the measurement.
|
0-20 minutes
|
Other Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Discomfort
Time Frame: After 5 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
The discomfort generated by the interventions and the comparator will be recorded 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after their application.
An ad hoc likert-type numerical scale will be used, where 1 means no discomfort and 10 means extreme discomfort.
|
After 5 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
|
Discomfort
Time Frame: After 10 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
The discomfort generated by the interventions and the comparator will be recorded 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after their application.
An ad hoc likert-type numerical scale will be used, where 1 means no discomfort and 10 means extreme discomfort.
|
After 10 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
|
Discomfort
Time Frame: After 15 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
The discomfort generated by the interventions and the comparator will be recorded 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after their application.
An ad hoc likert-type numerical scale will be used, where 1 means no discomfort and 10 means extreme discomfort.
|
After 15 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
|
Discomfort
Time Frame: After 20 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
The discomfort generated by the interventions and the comparator will be recorded 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after their application.
An ad hoc likert-type numerical scale will be used, where 1 means no discomfort and 10 means extreme discomfort.
|
After 20 minutes from the application of the intervention
|
|
Adverse events
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 months
|
Number of participants with adverse events
|
Through study completion, an average of 3 months
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Sponsor
Investigators
- Study Director: Ignacio Zaragoza García, RN, PhD, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Study Director: Ismael Ortuño Soriano, RN, PhD, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Study Director: Paloma Posada Moreno, PhD, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
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 (Estimated)
December 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
December 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2028
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
June 4, 2023
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
June 13, 2023
First Posted (Actual)
June 22, 2023
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
August 22, 2025
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 17, 2025
Last Verified
August 1, 2025
More Information
Terms related to this study
Other Study ID Numbers
- ECCRIOGAS
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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.