Nitrous oxide and cerebral vasodilatation

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Nitrous oxide and cerebral vasodilatation : a dose response study in healthy volunteers

• IRAS ID

  2151

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottingham

• Eudract number

  2007-007094-23

• ISRCTN Number

  n/a

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  n/a

• Research summary

  Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonlyknown as laughing gas is routinely used in clinical practice to provide painrelief in labour room & emergency rooms and as a carrier of anaestheticvapour in most patients having a general anaesthesia. Previous studies doneusing 50% or more N2O have shown that it acts as a cerebral vasodilator. Inthis study we intend to study the effects of using N2O in concentration of<50% on the blood flow to the brain and tone of the cerebral blood vessels.We are using research methods pioneered in our department. We will be usingtranscranial Doppler ultrasound machine with a pencil probe to record bloodflow velocity in brain while simultaneously recording the blood pressure andother function of the heart and blood vessels by using a Finometer©, anon-invasive device. Our aim in this project is to evaluate the effects ofinhaled concentrations of <50% N2O on cerebral blood flow and tone in adose-related manner. However, our overall aim is to find out if nitrous oxideat low doses can be used in the treatment of patients with cerebral vasospasm,which is common in patients with sub-arachnoid haemorrhage, traumatic braininjury and stroke

• REC name

  East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  08/H0406/160

• Date of REC Opinion

  9 Oct 2008

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion