Effect of Cryotherapy Modalities on Skin Temperature, Radial Artery Size and Flow Where Arterial Puncture Are Performed

NCT ID: NCT05915234

Last Updated: 2025-08-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: SUSPENDED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 48 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-12-31
• Study Completion Date: 2028-06-30

Brief Summary

Low-intervention clinical trial. The thermal and hemodynamic effects of different cryotherapy devices are evaluated. This study is included in the doctoral thesis of the principal investigator.

Investigators:

Principal Investigator: Julio Alberto Mateos Arroyo (RN, MSc, PhD student) Directors: Ignacio Zaragoza García (RN, PhD), Ismael Ortuño Soriano (RN, PhD), Paloma Posada Moreno (PhD).

Setting: Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

The three interventions to be evaluated are:

• Applying crushed ice.
• Apply frozen peas.
• Apply comparator.

Hypothesis: There are differences in the reduction of temperature, dimensions of the internal lumen of the radial artery and blood flow inside it depending on the different modalities of cryotherapy (crushed ice or bag of frozen peas) applied in the anatomical area of the wrist, point of arterial puncture for blood gas analysis.

Main objective: To analyze the effect of 3 cryotherapy devices on the radial artery area.

Secondary objectives

• To analyze the thermal behavior of the superficial tissue under study according to the cryotherapy device used.
• To analyze the differences in the radial artery caliber before and after the application of cold in the different experimental modalities under study.
• To analyze the differences in radial artery blood flow before and after the application of cold in the different experimental modalities under study.
• To identify the safety pattern of the use of the different cryotherapy devices (adverse events).

Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. This is a crossover clinical trial in which all participants will receive all interventions and will be randomized in the order in which they receive them.

Population: Adults with a good general state of health, who specifically do not have factors that could affect their thermoregulation or vascular pathologies.

Main variables:

• Skin surface temperature.
• Radial artery size.
• Radial artery blood flow.

Detailed Description

Pain caused by arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is one of the most common problems with this procedure. The low utilization rates of effective methods by healthcare providers for pain reduction, such as subcutaneous infiltration of anesthetics, make it necessary to search for effective and simple methods. The use of cryotherapy devices has proven effective for this purpose because the decrease in temperature increases pain threshold and tolerance due to a reduction in nerve conduction velocity and inhibition of nociceptors. In order to standardize these devices, it is necessary to understand the specific thermodynamic and hemodynamic effects of these devices. At the hemodynamic level, the reduction in temperature can produce arterial vasoconstriction. This effect may decrease the palpation of the radial artery, a necessary step for the identification of the optimal point of arterial puncture. Our hypothesis is that there are differences in temperature reduction, radial artery internal lumen dimensions and blood flow inside the radial artery depending on the different cryotherapy modalities applied in the anatomical area of the wrist, the point of arterial puncture for blood gas analysis. In order to obtain an answer to this hypothesis, we will propose a randomized controlled clinical trial with a sham comparator and two active interventions: crushed ice and frozen peas. In addition, this trial has a crossover design with the aim of minimizing the differences that may arise due to individual particularities (within-group variability), and thus increase the possible effect of the interventions (between-group variability). This choice has its justification in that the application of cryotherapy, according to some studies, has a thermal reducing effect with high individual variability. In this study, adults with a good general state of health, who specifically do not have factors that could affect their thermoregulation or vascular pathologies, will be recruited.

Conditions

Temperature; Blood Flow Velocity; Radial Artery Size

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Order number 1: Ice-Peas-Control

Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order. In this arm the sequence order is: crushed ice - frozen peas - control.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Crushed ice

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Frozen peas

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Room temperature gel

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.

Order number 2: Ice-Control-Peas

Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order. In this arm the sequence order is: crushed ice - control - frozen peas.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Crushed ice

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Frozen peas

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Room temperature gel

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.

Order number 3: Peas-Ice-Control

Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order. In this arm the sequence order is: frozen peas - crushed ice - control.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Crushed ice

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Frozen peas

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Room temperature gel

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.

Order number 4: Peas-Control-Ice

Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order. In this arm the sequence order is: frozen peas - control - crushed ice.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Crushed ice

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Frozen peas

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Room temperature gel

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.

Order number 5: Control-Ice-Peas

Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order. In this arm the sequence order is: control - crushed ice - frozen peas.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Crushed ice

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Frozen peas

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Room temperature gel

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.

Order number 6: Control-Peas-Ice

Each subject will receive all interventions and the control and they will randomly assigned to a sequence order. In this arm the sequence order is: control - frozen peas - crushed ice.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Crushed ice

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Frozen peas

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Room temperature gel

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.

Interventions

Crushed ice

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design.The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of crushed ice. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Frozen peas

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The cryotherapy device used consists of an opaque bag with a plastic outer cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of frozen peas. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed to reduce skin temperature in ranges that decrease nerve conduction velocity and increase pain threshold.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Room temperature gel

Each participant will receive two active devices and one sham comparator in a crossover design. The sham comparator device used consists of an opaque bag with an external plastic cover and an aluminum interior filled with 80 grams of ultrasound gel at room temperature. This device is applied on the skin where the optimal palpation point of the radial artery is located, where arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is usually performed.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

ih1; ig2; ctrl

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Good general health.
• Conscientious, with full cognitive and communicative capacity.
• Signed informed consent for this randomized clinical trial.

Exclusion Criteria

• Active smoker.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Peripheral vascular disease.
• Cyanosis of hands and fingers, Raynaud's Syndrome, Scleroderma and/or CREST Syndrome.
• Diabetes.
• Surgery, recent wounds or any type of major injury affecting the neck, shoulder girdle, upper limbs and/or hands.
• Carrier of an arterio-venous fistula.
• Lack of sensitivity to cold.
• Alcohol or caffeine intake in the last 24 hours.
• Intense physical exercise in the last 24 hours.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Hospital General Nuestra Señora del Prado

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Julio Alberto Mateos Arroyo

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Julio Alberto Mateos Arroyo

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Ignacio Zaragoza García, RN, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Ismael Ortuño Soriano, RN, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Paloma Posada Moreno, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Locations

Gerencia de Atención Integrada de Talavera de la Reina

Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain

Countries

Spain

Other Identifiers

ECCRIOGAS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id