Argon inhalation to protect thinking after carotid surgery.
Official title: Perioperative Argon Inhalation to Improve Neurocognitive Recovery After Carotid Surgery (PAIRS Trial)
Run by Negovsky Reanimatology Research Institute · NCT07200180 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether breathing an argon-oxygen mix during and after elective carotid surgery helps protect the brain and improve thinking while lowering the risk of postoperative delirium in adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Negovsky Reanimatology Research Institute Government |
| Locations | 2 sites (Moscow and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 22, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | November 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | June 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07200180 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults over 18 scheduled for elective carotid artery surgery under general anesthesia who can give informed consent and do not have major psychiatric or neuromuscular disorders meet the ideal candidate profile.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with diagnosed mental or neuromuscular disorders, severe heart failure (NYHA class III–IV), pregnant or breastfeeding people, those unable to undergo preoperative assessment, or those having emergency procedures are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants undergoing elective carotid revascularization under general anesthesia will receive a perioperative breathing mixture containing either argon-oxygen or a control nitrogen-oxygen mixture around the time of surgery. The study follows patients through the immediate postoperative period with monitoring for clinical and covert ischemic brain injury, standardized cognitive testing, and surveillance for delirium. The intervention is delivered at a single center and is intended to reduce microcirculatory reperfusion injury that can occur despite restored large-vessel blood flow. Outcomes will compare cognitive and delirium-related measures between the argon and control groups to see if argon provides neuroprotection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, argon inhalation could reduce silent perioperative strokes and lower short- and long-term cognitive decline and delirium after carotid surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Argon has shown neuroprotective effects in animal models and some small early human studies, but robust large-scale Phase 3 evidence in this surgical setting is not yet available.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * age \> 18 years * elective carotid artery surgery * general anesthesia * written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * The presence of any mental disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision which is confirmed by a psychiatrist. * The presence of any neuromuscular disease according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision * Heart failure equal 3 or 4 class according to the New York Heart Association Functional Classification * Pregnant or breast-feeding women * Inability to undergo a preoperative assessment for any reason * Previously enrolled in this trial
Where it's running
-
GBWZ of Moscow city hospital n.a. S.P. Botkin
Moscow, Russia Recruiting -
Demikhov Municipal Clinical Hospital 68
Moscow, Russia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Oleg Grebenchikov, MD, PhD — Negovsky Reanimatology Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Oleg Grebenchikov, MD, PhD
- Email: oleg.grebenchikov@yandex.ru
- Phone: +79686494147
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
High-coverage carotid stent versus medical treatment to prevent embolism from symptomatic non-stenotic carotid disease (SyNC)
This trial will test whether placing a high‑coverage carotid stent, compared with medical therapy alone, reduces repeat embolic events in people who recently had symptoms from low‑grade (10–49%) carotid plaques with high‑risk features.
-
Monitoring the safety and effectiveness of a new carotid artery procedure
This study is testing a new, less invasive carotid artery procedure to see if it is safer and more effective than the standard surgery for people with carotid artery disease.
-
Comparing two types of nerve blocks for pain management after knee surgery
This study is testing whether a single injection of a nerve block can help control pain after knee surgery better than a continuous nerve block, while also allowing for easier movement and recovery.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.