Esta página se tradujo automáticamente y no se garantiza la precisión de la traducción. por favor refiérase a versión inglesa para un texto fuente.

Local Warming to Improve Pulse Oximetry Accuracy in Critically Ill Patients (PULSEWARM)

24 de agosto de 2026 actualizado por: Carl Sjödin, Vastra Gotaland Region

Effect of Local Warming on Pulse Oximetry Accuracy in Critically Ill Patients With Low Peripheral Perfusion: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Pulse oximeters are widely used in intensive care to continuously estimate the oxygen level in the blood. However, pulse oximeter measurements may be less accurate when blood flow to the fingers is poor, which is common in critically ill patients.

This study will investigate whether warming the hand and lower part of the forearm can improve the accuracy of pulse oximeter measurements in mechanically ventilated adult intensive care patients with low blood flow to the fingers.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a local warming strategy or usual care without warming. In the warming group, the hand and lower forearm will be warmed for 15 minutes to a target temperature of 41-42°C. Pulse oximeter measurements will be compared with oxygen saturation measured from an arterial blood sample before and after the intervention.

The main objective is to determine whether local warming reduces the difference between pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) 15 minutes after the start of the assigned strategy. The study will also assess whether any improvement persists at 60 minutes, how peripheral blood flow changes during 4 hours of follow-up, whether repeat warming is effective when blood flow decreases again, and whether the effect differs according to skin phototype. Safety related to the warming intervention will also be evaluated.

Descripción general del estudio

Estado

Aún no reclutando

Intervención / Tratamiento

Descripción detallada

Pulse oximetry is a fundamental component of monitoring and oxygen titration in critically ill patients. Its accuracy may, however, be impaired by reduced peripheral perfusion. Low peripheral perfusion is common in mechanically ventilated intensive care patients and may contribute to clinically relevant differences between peripheral oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO₂) and arterial oxygen saturation measured by blood gas analysis (SaO₂).

Local warming increases cutaneous blood flow and is routinely used to improve peripheral perfusion during procedures such as capillary blood sampling. Preliminary single-center data suggest that local warming may also improve pulse oximetry accuracy in critically ill patients with low peripheral perfusion. Whether this effect is present when evaluated in a randomized controlled trial is unknown.

This is a prospective, multicenter, parallel-group randomized controlled strategy trial conducted in four intensive care units. Mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients with an arterial catheter and a finger perfusion index (PFI) <1.0 will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a protocolized local warming strategy or usual care without protocolized warming. Randomization will be stratified by study site and Fitzpatrick skin phototype.

In the intervention group, local warming will be applied to the dorsum of the hand and distal forearm for 15 minutes, with a target interface temperature of 41-42°C. Repeat warming is permitted during follow-up if finger PFI decreases below 0.5 according to the prespecified study strategy. The control group will receive usual care without protocolized local warming.

SpO₂, finger PFI, earlobe PFI, and arterial SaO₂ will be assessed at baseline, 15 minutes, and 60 minutes. Additional PFI measurements will be obtained at 120 and 240 minutes. Oxygen therapy will otherwise be managed according to standard clinical care.

The primary objective is to compare pulse oximetry bias between the randomized groups at 15 minutes. Bias is defined as SpO₂ minus SaO₂, expressed in percentage points. The primary analysis will compare the groups using an analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline SpO₂-SaO₂ bias and study site.

Secondary objectives include assessment of pulse oximetry accuracy at 60 minutes, the proportion of measurements within ±2 percentage points of SaO₂, changes in peripheral perfusion during 4 hours of follow-up, the local versus systemic perfusion response assessed using finger and earlobe PFI, the response to repeat warming, safety outcomes, and possible treatment-effect modification according to Fitzpatrick skin phototype.

The planned sample size is 240 participants, with 120 participants allocated to each study group.

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

240

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

Ubicaciones de estudio

      • Gothenburg, Suecia
        • Sahlgrenska University Hospital
        • Contacto:
      • Kungälv, Suecia
        • Kungälvs Sjukhus
      • Skövde, Suecia
        • Skaraborgs Sjukhus
      • Trollhättan, Suecia
        • Norra Älvsborgs Sjukhus

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Adulto
  • Adulto Mayor

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 years or older.
  • Admitted to an intensive care unit.
  • Receiving invasive mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube or tracheostomy.
  • Existing arterial catheter placed for a clinical indication.
  • Objectively verified low peripheral perfusion, defined as finger perfusion index (PFI) <1.0 at screening.
  • Stable baseline pulse oximetry signal permitting calculation of the SpO2-SaO2 difference.
  • Clinical condition considered sufficiently stable to allow study measurements without interfering with ongoing treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Absence of a stable baseline pulse oximetry signal on all available sensors, preventing calculation of the SpO2-SaO2 difference.
  • Skin injury, burn, infection, or other local skin condition of the hand or forearm that prevents safe application of the warming pad or pulse oximetry sensor.
  • Clinical instability for which the treating physician considers study participation likely to interfere with acute treatment or patient safety.
  • Known hypersensitivity to materials used in the warming pad or sensors.
  • Participation in another ongoing interventional study that could affect the primary outcome.

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Cuidados de apoyo
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
  • Enmascaramiento: Ninguno (etiqueta abierta)

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: Protocolized Local Warming
Participants receive protocolized local warming applied to the dorsum of the hand and distal forearm for 15 minutes, targeting an interface temperature of 41-42°C. Repeat warming is permitted during follow-up if finger perfusion index decreases below 0.5.
Local warming is applied to the dorsum of the hand and distal forearm for 15 minutes using a warming device adjusted to achieve a target interface temperature of 41-42°C. During follow-up, repeat warming is permitted if finger perfusion index decreases below 0.5.
Sin intervención: Usual Care Without Protocolized Warming
Participants receive usual care without protocolized local warming. Oxygen therapy and all other clinical management are provided according to standard intensive care practice.

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
SpO2-SaO2 Bias at 15 Minutes
Periodo de tiempo: 15 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy
Pulse oximetry bias is defined as peripheral oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) minus arterial oxygen saturation measured by blood gas analysis (SaO2), expressed in percentage points. The primary analysis will compare SpO2-SaO2 bias between the local warming and control groups at 15 minutes, adjusted for baseline bias and study site.
15 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
SpO2-SaO2 Bias at 60 Minutes
Periodo de tiempo: 60 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy
Pulse oximetry bias is defined as SpO2 minus SaO2, expressed in percentage points. Bias at 60 minutes will be compared between randomized groups to evaluate durability of the effect of the warming strategy.
60 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy
Proportion of SpO2 Measurements Within ±2 Percentage Points of SaO2
Periodo de tiempo: 15 and 60 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy
The proportion of participants with an absolute difference between SpO2 and SaO2 of 2 percentage points or less will be determined at 15 and 60 minutes and compared between randomized groups.
15 and 60 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy
Change in Finger Perfusion Index
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline and 15, 60, 120, and 240 minutes
Finger perfusion index (PFI) will be measured serially to assess the peripheral perfusion response to the randomized strategy and its durability during 4 hours of follow-up.
Baseline and 15, 60, 120, and 240 minutes
Difference Between Finger and Earlobe Perfusion Index Response
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, 15 minutes, and 60 minutes
Changes in perfusion index measured at the finger and earlobe will be compared to assess whether the perfusion response to local warming is predominantly local rather than systemic.
Baseline, 15 minutes, and 60 minutes
Perfusion Index Response to Repeat Local Warming
Periodo de tiempo: Up to 240 minutes after randomization
Among participants in the warming group who undergo repeat warming because finger PFI decreases below 0.5 during follow-up, the change in finger PFI following repeat warming will be assessed to evaluate repeatability of the perfusion response.
Up to 240 minutes after randomization
Warming-Related Adverse Events
Periodo de tiempo: From initiation of the randomized strategy through 240 minutes
Number of participants experiencing adverse events considered related to local warming, including skin injury, erythema requiring discontinuation of warming, or other prespecified adverse reactions during the study period.
From initiation of the randomized strategy through 240 minutes

Otras medidas de resultado

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Treatment Effect on SpO2-SaO2 Bias According to Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype
Periodo de tiempo: 15 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy
Prespecified analysis of treatment-effect modification according to Fitzpatrick skin phototype. The interaction between randomized treatment group and Fitzpatrick skin phototype will be evaluated for the primary outcome of SpO2-SaO2 bias at 15 minutes.
15 minutes after initiation of the randomized strategy

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Estimado)

1 de octubre de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

1 de octubre de 2028

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

1 de diciembre de 2028

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

24 de agosto de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

24 de agosto de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

28 de agosto de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

28 de agosto de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

24 de agosto de 2026

Última verificación

1 de agosto de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

INDECISO

Descripción del plan IPD

The feasibility and conditions for sharing de-identified individual participant data have not yet been determined. Any future data sharing will be subject to applicable ethical approvals, data protection regulations, institutional policies, and appropriate data-sharing agreements.

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

Suscribir