Nitrous Oxide compared with nimodipine

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Comparison of 30% nitrous oxide with therapeutic dose nimodipine on cerebral and systemic vascular physiology

• IRAS ID

  41681

• Contact name

  Ravi Mahajan

• Eudract number

  2010-022874-15

• ISRCTN Number

  n/a

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  n/a

• Research summary

  Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) has many medical applications. It is used in operating theatres as an anaesthetic gas in combination with other agents. From previous studies we know that breathing nitrous oxide at concentrations of approximately 30% increases blood flow to the brain. This could be of great value in the treatment of patients who have had a brain haemorrhage, a stroke, or patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Currently patients who have suffered a certain type of brain haemorrhage, called a ??sub-arachnoid brain haemorrhage??, are given a drug called nimodipine. This drug is given in tablet form, or via the patients?? veins straight into the blood. It can cause a drop in blood pressure which may be disadvantageous to the patient who has had a brain haemorrhage. Its administration in those that cannot swallow, or who may not absorb the drug from the digestive tract, is not ideal. Feeding tubes must be inserted, which can be difficult to place correctly and must be done by a trained nurse or doctor and checked by means of an X-ray. In some patients it is necessary to give the drug into the veins. The drug in it??s liquid format for intravenous (vein) use is very irritant. It must therefore be given into a large vein with a fast blood flow, usually in the neck or groin. Such access to veins can be difficult, must be done by trained doctors, and have side effects and associated complications. All of the problems associated with giving nimodipine to this patient group could be avoided if there was a drug which gave the same positive results, without the difficulties in administration. Such would be the case if laughing gas could be shown to cause the same helpful physiological changes as nimodipine.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  10/H0405/84

• Date of REC Opinion

  14 Oct 2010

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion