Is SQWAB useful during the measurement of cerebral autoregulation

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Is square wave breathing a useful stimulus during the measurement of cerebral auto-regulation?

• IRAS ID

  265456

• Contact name

  Anthony Birch

• Contact email

  Tony.Birch@uhs.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Univeristy Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 4 months, 9 days

• Research summary

  The brain is able to control the flow of blood through it via a process known as cerebral autoregulation. As a result of surgery, disease or medication a patient is taking, this autoregulation can become impaired and blood flow through the brain can be too high or too low.
  Square wave breathing (SQWAB) is a technique where a patient breathes in and out through a tube that increases the effort required to breath. This is quite safe; if the subject is uncomfortable with it they can just stop breathing into the tube. The increased effort of breathing causes a small increase in the variation of blood pressure with each breath. Cerebral autoregulation measurements are made using an ultrasound measurement to record blood flow through the brain during blood pressure changes. We will test to see if these measurements, which are not currently as reliable as we wish, are improved if performed during SQWAB breathing.

  We will recruit 15 healthy individuals and measure their cerebral autoregulation with and without using SQWAB. We will then simulate impairment by raising the amount of carbon dioxide they are breathing.
  If SQWAB is effective, it will be usable on any patient that can breathe sufficiently well to use the high resistance valves.
  The research project will be carried out at Southampton General hospital

• REC name

  London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/LO/1417

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 Sep 2019

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion