Efficacy and Pathophysiological Implications of a New Asphyxiation Delaying Device (SAFEBACK)

A New Device to Delay Asphyxiation in Subjects Critically Buried in Avalanche Debris: Efficacy and Pathophysiological Implications

Survival of fully buried avalanche victims depends in major part on a triad of hypoxia, hypercapnia, and hypothermia and therefore decreases rapidly after complete burial. Besides optimizing companion rescue, which still today and even by trained people often takes more than 15 minutes to the extraction of an avalanche victim, prolonging the ability to breath after critical avalanche burial increases survival probability by giving rescuers more time to find and unbury avalanche victims. Based on previous research, the Norwegian company Safeback SE (Bergen, Norway) developed a new non-medical device using an innovative functional principle. The device, called the Safeback SBX (Safeback SE, Bergen, Norway), should make it possible to prevent asphyxia by delivering fresh air to the air pocket. Company claims to achieve a prolongation of survival up to over 60 minutes, giving companion rescuers as well as professional rescue teams more time to get access to the victim. Technical tests conducted by the developing company already provided some promising results regarding the general functioning. However, this study is needed to provide the scientific evidence of the effectiveness and influence on physiologic parameters buried in snow debris humans under realistic conditions.

Changes from baseline (measurement at 0 min) -> snow-breathing phase (5min, 15min, and timepoint immediately before interruption [up to 60 min) (countinuous monitoring)

Changes from baseline (measurement at 0 min) -> snow-breathing phase (5min, 15min, and timepoint immediately before interruption [up to 60 min) (countinuous monitoring)

Changes from baseline (measurement at 0 min) -> snow-breathing phase (5min, 15min, and timepoint immediately before interruption [up to 60 min) (countinuous monitoring)

Change from basal measurement (before hypoxia exposure) to post-exposure measurement (after hypoxia exposure - up to 60 min)

Change from basal measurement (before hypoxia exposure) to post-exposure measurement (after hypoxia exposure - up to 60 min)

Change from basal measurement (before hypoxia exposure) to post-exposure measurement (after hypoxia exposure - up to 60 min)

Inclusion Criteria: - healthy ASA I subjects Exclusion Criteria: ASA class II or higher chronic high degree cardiovascular or pulmonary disease claustrophobia psychiatric or neurological disease long-term medication pregnant woman no informed consent history of fever or serious cough in the past two weeks current Covid-19 symptoms or recently tested positive for Covid-19 body temperature ≥ 37.5°on test days.

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