NCT04964778

SKED Physiology Study

A Comparison of Respiratory Status and Comfort of Various Patient Packaging and Transport Configurations on Horizontal Ground

• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 0 (actual)
• Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

A SKED© is a stretcher typically used for for confined space, high angle, or technical rescue. SKED© is not an acronym; the word came from fusing two words: "Sled" and "Skid." Over the last several years, as recommendations for spinal protection and utilization of adjunct field hardware for patient application changes, there have been conflicting training and practice regarding optimizing patient packaging utilizing the SKED© system. Specifically, there is disagreement in terms of optimal packaging to ensure no decompensation of respiratory status of the patient objectively, as well as comfort level subjectively solely related to the packaging method utilized. Several training bodies currently employ different practices of packaging including use of an Oregon Spine Splint-II© (OSS-II) system within a SKED©, foam padding, vacuum mattress configuration, or even no additional adjunct at all. The objective of this study is to determine whether adjuncts to the SKED© system impact respiratory physiology, or patient comfort while being dragged over horizontal ground.

Detailed description

This study will be a randomized controlled, non-blinded trial The setting of this study will be an area of level ground, outdoors at a state park. Study enrollment goal is 50 subjects. This was determined by review of statistics from similar studies, available funding and time frame allocated to complete the study. There is not planned interim analysis, and no criteria for ending the study early. Each participant will be packaged using a SKED© system with no assumed spinal injury. Each subject will be packaged with SKED© only; SKED©+OSS-II©; SKED©+Vacuum mattress; SKED©+foam padding. Each patient packaged within their respective systems as one unit will be subject to a 30 meter controlled drag over terrain chosen to mimic a standard dry backcountry extrication drag. Then carried back to the start by a 4 person carry team to simulate a carry out scenario. The same 30 meter ground area will be used for all systems. Built in safety during the drag includes a manually monitored electric winch system with load cells and two safety operators walking alongside the packaged patient. Target movement will be approximately 1.5-2 miles per hour.

Conditions

• Comparison of Patient Packaging and Transport Methods

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	SKED©	A SKED device is lightweight plastic stretcher used for moving patients through difficult terrain.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-01
• Primary completion: 2024-01-01
• Completion: 2024-01-01
• First posted: 2021-07-16
• Last updated: 2023-08-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study