Safety Study of Inhaling Carbon Monoxide in Healthy Volunteers

Official Title: “Safety and Tolerability of Inhaled Carbon Monoxide in Healthy Volunteers”

Post operative ileus (POI), a temporary paralysis of the intestines, is a serious health care problem. It normally occurs in all patients after surgery to the abdomen but in some cases can result in serious complications. The objective of this study is to determine if inhaling very low doses of carbon monoxide (CO) before and after colon surgery will shorten the duration of normal POI and/or prevent the development of POI complications in patients undergoing colon surgery.

This preliminary study will be conducted in ten healthy volunteers to monitor for blood levels and adverse effects that occur at different durations of exposure of inhaled CO to establish a safe dose for patients in the main trial. For the main trial, patients requiring surgery to their colon will be assigned randomly to receive one hour treatments of either CO or oxygen by face mask before and after their operation.

We hypothesize that healthy volunteers will be able to tolerate 1 hour doses of 250 ppm of CO with minimal side effects. It is also anticipated that for each dose of CO administered, the blood levels of CO will remain well under poisonous levels. Finally, we anticipate blood levels of CO will return to baseline level within 24 hours following the last dose of CO.

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

• Drug: 250 ppm carbon monoxide
  • 250 ppm of inhaled carbon monoxide over one hour

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• Experimental: Carbon Monoxide
  • Healthy volunteers will receive 250 ppm of carbon monoxide by face mask. This dose will be administered for 1 hour with continuous COHb monitoring. At baseline and at each half hour time point, a blood sample will be drawn to be analyzed by the gas chromatograph. After 1 hour, the volunteer will be excused and asked to return in 4 hours and this procedure repeated. At any point, if the COHb level reaches 10%, administration of CO will be terminated.

Primary Measures

• Adverse Event Rate
  • Time Frame: Before and after carbon monoxide exposure
    Safety Issue?: Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women, age > 18 years.
• Women must be using acceptable contraceptives, post-menopausal or surgically sterile.
• No prior smoking history.
• BMI between 16 and 30 inclusive.
• In good health as per medical history, physical exam, vital signs & ECG.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exposure to carbon monoxide during the 48 hours prior to the study day.
• Occupational exposure to CO.
• Significant disease that may put the volunteer at risk because of participation in the study or may influence the results of the study or the volunteer's ability to participate in the study.
• Baseline blood level of COHb >2%.
• Patients with underlying lung disease such as asthma or COPD.
• Baseline oxygen saturation <92% on room air.
• Planned pregnancy, already pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Participation in another clinical trial within 2 months prior to study.

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 18 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 70 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Lead Investigator: Queen's University Other

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Paul Belliveau, MD Principal Investigator Queen's University  

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 09, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01050933

Study ID Number: POICO-A

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01050933

Health Authority: Canada: Health Canada