Comparing airway management methods for trauma patients before hospital arrival

Prehospital Airway Control Trial : A Randomized Controlled Trial of Prehospital Airway Management Strategy for Trauma Patients

NA · University of Pittsburgh · NCT04100564

This study is testing whether using a special airway device or standard methods helps trauma patients survive better before they reach the hospital.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment2009 (estimated)
Ages15 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Pittsburgh (other)
Locations14 sites (Atlanta, Georgia and 13 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04100564 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The Prehospital Airway Control Trial (PACT) is a multi-center trial that evaluates different airway management strategies for trauma patients in prehospital settings. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard airway management or a supraglottic airway device during their initial airway attempt. The primary goal is to assess 24-hour survival rates, while secondary outcomes include survival to hospital discharge, adverse clinical events, and various metrics related to ICU care. The study aims to enroll approximately 2,009 subjects across 17 prehospital agencies over five years.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are trauma patients with indicators necessitating advanced airway management, such as low GCS or inadequate oxygen saturation.

Not a fit: Patients under 15 years of age, those with known pregnancy, or those experiencing cardiac arrest without ROSC will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could improve survival rates and outcomes for trauma patients requiring advanced airway management.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown varying success with different airway management techniques, but this specific approach is novel in the prehospital setting.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Traumatic injury requiring advanced airway management. Indicators of need for advanced airway management include: a) GCS\<8, b) SpO2\<90 despite supplemental oxygen, b) ETCO2\>60 despite supplemental ventilation, or d) provider discretion.
2. Transport (or intended transport) to an enrolling LITES Trauma Center

Exclusion Criteria:

1. \< 15 years of age
2. Known pregnancy
3. Known prisoner
4. Initial advanced airway attempted by a non-PACT provider.
5. Cardiac Arrest without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) at the time of the intervention
6. Caustic substance ingestion
7. Airway burns
8. Objection to study voiced by subject or family member at the scene.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be assessed based on information available at the time of enrollment, defined as the time at which enrolling agency provides positive pressure ventilation support. Although all reasonable efforts will be made by the emergency medical crew to either directly witness or obtain documentation of inclusion criteria, due to the nature of the emergency prehospital setting, there may be occasions where the emergency medical crew must rely on verbal report of inclusion criteria from referring hospital or emergency crew. In these instances, if, after subsequent review of outside hospital and/or ground crew documentation, it is determined that the subject did not meet inclusion criteria and/or met exclusion criteria, the subject will remain enrolled in the study based on the intention-to-treat principle.

If a verbal report must be used in lieu of physical documentation or directly witnessing inclusion criteria, documentation of the verbal report will serve as the source documentation for determining eligibility. Verbal reports will be documented in the emergency medical record and will detail the information provided and by whom.

Where this trial is running

Atlanta, Georgia and 13 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Trauma Injury, Airway Control, intubation, supraglottic airway

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.