Hemodynamic effects of supplemental oxygen versus air in simulated blood loss in healthy volunteers: a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover trial

BACKGROUND: Trauma patients frequently receive supplemental oxygen, but its hemodynamic effects in blood loss are poorly understood. We studied the effects of oxygen on the hemodynamic response and tolerance to simulated blood loss in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Fifteen healthy volunteers were exposed to simulated blood loss by lower body negative pressure (LBNP) on two separate visits at least 24 h apart. They were randomized to inhale 100% oxygen or medical air on visit 1, while inhaling the other on visit 2. To simulate progressive blood loss LBNP was increased every 3 min in levels of 10 mmHg from 0 to 80 mmHg or until hemodynamic decompensation. Oxygen and air were delivered on a reservoired face mask at 15 L/min. The effect of oxygen compared to air on the changes in cardiac output, stroke volume and middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAV) was examined with mixed regression to account for repeated measurements within subjects. The effect of oxygen compared to air on the tolerance to blood loss was measured as the time to hemodynamic decompensation in a shared frailty model. Cardiac output was the primary outcome variable. RESULTS: Oxygen had no statistically significant effect on the changes in cardiac output (0.031 L/min/LBNP level, 95% confidence interval (CI): − 0.015 to 0.077, P = 0.188), stroke volume (0.39 mL/LBNP level, 95% CI: − 0.39 to 1.2, P = 0.383), or MCAV (0.25 cm/s/LBNP level, 95% CI: − 0.11 to 0.61, P = 0.176). Four subjects exhibited hemodynamic decompensation when inhaling oxygen compared to 10 when inhaling air (proportional hazard ratio 0.24, 95% CI: 0.065 to 0.85, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: We found no effect of oxygen compared to air on the changes in cardiac output, stroke volume or MCAV during simulated blood loss in healthy volunteers. However, oxygen had a favorable effect on the tolerance to simulated blood loss with fewer hemodynamic decompensations. Our findings suggest that supplemental oxygen does not adversely affect the hemodynamic response to simulated blood loss. Trial registration This trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05150418) December 9, 2021 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40635-023-00561-z.