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Gas Therapy

Nitrous Oxide + Oxygen for Induced Labor

Phase 3
Recruiting
Research Sponsored by Maimonides Medical Center
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be between 18 and 65 years old
Must not have
Pregnant patients with contraindications to receiving nitrous oxide
Gas-trapping conditions such as pneumothorax or small bowel obstruction
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 15 minutes
Awards & highlights
Pivotal Trial

Summary

This trial will compare how well nitrous oxide and oxygen help to place a Foley balloon catheter to ripen the cervix and induce labor.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for pregnant patients who are at term or have a medical need for early delivery and require a Foley balloon catheter for cervical ripening. Participants must be able to self-administer nitrous oxide safely, speak English, and not have conditions like vitamin B12 deficiency, history of malignant hyperthermia, recent opioid use, contraindications to nitrous oxide, non-reassuring fetal heart patterns, gas-trapping conditions or be under 35 weeks gestation.
What is being tested?
The study is testing the effectiveness of using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) versus oxygen in helping with the placement of an intracervical balloon catheter used to prepare the cervix for labor induction. It's a randomized controlled trial where participants will receive either nitrous oxide or oxygen randomly.
What are the potential side effects?
Possible side effects from inhaling nitrous oxide can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache and feelings of euphoria. Oxygen generally has fewer side effects but may cause dryness in nasal passages or mild discomfort.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I am pregnant and cannot receive nitrous oxide due to health risks.
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I do not have conditions like trapped air in my chest or blocked intestines.
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I am asking for spinal or epidural anesthesia.
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I am currently pregnant and less than 35 weeks along.
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I am currently taking magnesium sulfate.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~15 minutes
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 15 minutes for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
success rate of intracervical balloon placement
Secondary study objectives
Pain Relief

Side effects data

From 2011 Phase 4 trial • 20 Patients • NCT00967694
19%
Dysphoria
4%
Nausea/vomiting
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Nitrous Oxide Administration

Awards & Highlights

Pivotal Trial
The final step before approval, pivotal trials feature drugs that have already shown basic safety & efficacy.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: Nitrous OxideExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Patients in the intervention arm will receive an inhalant of 50% nitrous/50% oxygen intended to target pain relief for the duration of their foley ballon placement.
Group II: OxygenPlacebo Group1 Intervention
Patients in the control arm will receive an inhalant of 100% oxygen for the duration of their foley balloon placement.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Nitrous oxide
2007
Completed Phase 4
~990

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Maimonides Medical CenterLead Sponsor
71 Previous Clinical Trials
15,348 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Labor Pain
145 Patients Enrolled for Labor Pain
~87 spots leftby Jul 2025